Frank P. Keller Jr. (February 4, 1913 – December 25, 1977) was an American film editor with 24 feature film credits from 1958 to 1977.Birthdate confirmed at the Social Security Death Index.Filmography and awards based on . He was noted for his work with director Peter Yates, particularly for the film Bullitt (1968), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. He received an additional three nominations for the films Beach Red (1967), The Hot Rock (1972), and Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973).
Career From 1942 to 1945, during the Second World War, Keller worked with editor Norval Crutcher on cataloging the film shot by combat cameramen in Europe. In 1949, Keller was editor Al Clark's assistant on All the King's Men (1949). From 1952 to 1956, Keller worked as an editor with Frank Capra on the first four films of The Bell Laboratory Science Series, sponsored by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Their work culminated with the 1956 televising (in color) of Our Mr. Sun, which was the first film of the series. The four films were Our Mr. Sun, Hemo the Magnificent (1957), The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays (1957), and Meteora: The Unchained Goddess (1958). Keller later edited the seventh and eighth films in the series, Thread of Life (1960) and About Time (1962), which were produced by Owen Crump for Warner Bros.
Keller's first editing credit on a feature film was for The Bonnie Parker Story (1958), which was a film noir directed by William Witney. In 1961 Keller edited Pocketful of Miracles, which was the last film directed by Frank Capra. Keller's television work included episodes from the series The Avengers (1962) and two episodes from the first season of Star Trek (1967–69). Keller is noted for editing six of the early films directed by Peter Yates, from Bullitt (1968) through Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976). His last feature film was for Rolling Thunder (directed by John Flynn-1977).
In 1976, Keller was elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Paid access.
Bullitt
The car chase from Bullitt is likely the scene from Keller's work that is best remembered, and it has been extensively discussed over the years. Leonard Maltin has called it a "now-classic car chase, one of the screen's all-time best." Emanuel Levy wrote in 2003 that, "Bullitt contains one of the most exciting car chases in film history, a sequence that revolutionized Hollywood's standards. Chasing the hoodlums, McQueen drives up and down the hills of San Francisco, while an impressive hand-held camera records the perilous pursuit and traffic in thrilling minutia detail, as his sexy vehicle narrowly misses intersecting cars and trucks; other barriers during the chase are pedestrians, buildings, and so on." Paul Monaco has written, "The most compelling street footage of 1968, however, appeared in an entirely contrived sequence, with nary a hint of documentary feel about it -- the car chase through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt, created from footage shot over nearly five weeks. William A. Fraker, the cinematographer for the film, attributed the success of the chase sequence primarily to the work of Keller. At the time, Keller was credited with cutting the piece in such a superb manner that he made the city of San Francisco a "character" in the film."
Death Keller died in Los Angeles on Christmas Day 1977, aged 64.
Filmography
Film Year Film Director Notes 1958 The Bonnie Parker StoryWilliam Witney 1959 The Five PenniesMelville Shavelson Ghost of Dragstrip HollowWilliam J. Hole Jr.1961 Pocketful of MiraclesFrank Capra1962 Safe at Home!Walter Doniger 1963 Papa's Delicate ConditionGeorge Marshall Come Blow Your HornBud Yorkin1964 For Those Who Think YoungLeslie H. Martinson 1966 Tarzan and the Valley of GoldRobert Day Cyborg 2087Franklin Adreon1967 Beach RedCornel Wilde1968 Bullitt Peter Yates1st of 6 collaborations with Yates1969 John and Mary1971 Murphy's War1972 The Hot Rock1973 Jonathan Livingston SeagullHall Bartlett1974 For Pete's Sake Peter Yates1976 Mother, Jugs & Speed 1977 Rolling ThunderJohn Flynn Beyond ReasonTelly SavalasUnreleased until 1985
Television Year Title Notes 1961 The Avengers Outlaws1 episode1964−65 The Bing Crosby Show5 episodes1966 Star Trek: The Original Series2 episodes1968 The Ghost & Mrs. Muir 1 episode1969 Room 222
TV movies and specials Year Film DirectorNotes1956 Our Mr. Sun 1st of 4 collaborations with Capra 1957 Hemo the Magnificent1957 The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays1958 The Unchained Goddess1960The Thread of Life1962 About Time1971 The Forgotten ManWalter Grauman1972 GargoylesBill L. Norton1975 The Daughters of Joshua Cabe ReturnDavid Lowell Rich
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultAcademy Awards1968Best Film EditingBeach Red1969Bullitt1973The Hot Rock1974Jonathan Livingston SeagullAmerican Cinema Editors Awards1962Best Edited Feature Film – DramaticPocketful of Miracles1968Beach Red1969Bullitt1970Best Edited Drama SeriesRoom 222 1970Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for TelevisionGargoyles1974Best Edited Feature Film – DramaticJonathan Livingston SeagullBritish Academy Film Awards1970Best EditingBullittPrimetime Emmy Awards1957Best Editing of a Film for TelevisionOur Mr. Sun This database lists the film as the "AT&T Science Series"; Our Mr. Sun was the first of nine programs in the series.
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