Robert Swink (June 3, 1918 – August 15, 2000) was an American film editor who edited nearly 60 feature films during a career that spanned 46 years. Obituary for Swink.

Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Swink and his family moved to Hollywood in 1927. After graduating from North Hollywood High School in 1936, he joined RKO Pictures as an editing apprentice. During World War II, he edited training films for the Army Special Services. His first screen credit was the 1943 comedy short Double Up.

For the next five years, Swink edited mostly B movies until George Stevens hired him for I Remember Mama (1948). He edited several Westerns in 1950, and the following year was hired by William Wyler to work on Detective Story. It was the first of 11 projects on which the two men collaborated. Swink left RKO to join Wyler at Paramount in 1952, and his credits at the studio include Carrie (1952), Roman Holiday (1953), and The Desperate Hours (1955). Among his assistants in this era was Hal Ashby, who became a distinguished editor and director.

In 1964, Swink edited The Best Man for Franklin J. Schaffner. They worked together on four additional films, including Papillon (1973), Islands in the Stream (1977), The Boys from Brazil (1978), and Sphinx (1981). Swink came out of retirement to edit the 1989 film Welcome Home when Schaffner died right after completing principal photography on the project.

Swink worked as a second unit director on The Big Country (1958), The Collector (1965), How to Steal a Million (1966), The Only Game in Town (1970), and The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970).

Swink was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Roman Holiday (1953), Funny Girl (1968), and The Boys from Brazil (1978). He received the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award in 1993.

Swink died of a heart attack in Santa Maria, California.

Selected filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes 1944 Passport to DestinyRay McCarey Action in ArabiaLéonide Moguy Heavenly DaysHoward Estabrook 1946 Step by StepPhil Rosen Criminal CourtRobert WiseFirst collaboration with Robert Wise 1947 The Devil Thumbs a RideFelix E. Feist The Long NightAnatole Litvak1948 I Remember MamaGeorge StevensFirst collaboration with George Stevens 1949 Riders of the RangeLesley SelanderFirst collaboration with Lesley Selander Adventure in BaltimoreRichard Wallace Make Mine LaughsRichard FleischerFirst collaboration with Richard Fleischer 1950 Dynamite PassLew Landers Storm over Wyoming Lesley SelanderSecond collaboration with Lesley Selander Rider from TucsonThird collaboration with Lesley Selander Never a Dull MomentGeorge Marshall Double DealAbby Berlin 1951 The Company She KeepsJohn Cromwell Detective StoryWilliam WylerFirst collaboration with William Wyler 1952 The Captive CityRobert WiseSecond collaboration with Robert Wise The Narrow MarginRichard FleischerSecond collaboration with Richard Fleischer Carrie William WylerSecond collaboration with William Wyler1953 Roman HolidayThird collaboration with William Wyler1954 Witness to MurderRoy Rowland 1955 CrashoutLewis R. Foster The Desperate Hours William WylerFourth collaboration with William Wyler1956 Friendly PersuasionFifth collaboration with William Wyler1957 The Young StrangerJohn Frankenheimer1959 The Diary of Anne FrankGeorge StevensSecond collaboration with George Stevens 1961 The Young DoctorsPhil Karlson The Children's HourWilliam WylerSeventh collaboration with William Wyler1963 Captain SindbadByron Haskin1964 The Best ManFranklin J. SchaffnerFirst collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner1965 The Collector William WylerEighth collaboration with William Wyler1966 How to Steal a MillionNinth collaboration with William Wyler1967 The Flim-Flam ManIrvin Kershner1968 Funny GirlWilliam WylerTenth collaboration with William Wyler1972 SkyjackedJohn Guillermin 1973 Lady IceTom Gries PapillonFranklin J. SchaffnerSecond collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner1974 Three the Hard WayGordon Parks Jr.1975 Rooster CogburnStuart Millar1976 MidwayJack Smight1977 Islands in the StreamFranklin J. SchaffnerThird collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner 1978 Gray Lady DownDavid Greene The Boys from BrazilFranklin J. SchaffnerFourth collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner 1979 The In-LawsArthur Hiller Going in StyleMartin Brest1981 Sphinx Franklin J. SchaffnerFifth collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner1989 Welcome HomeSixth collaboration with Franklin J. Schaffner

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role Notes1958 The Big Country William WylerSupervising editorSixth collaboration with William Wyler1968 Funny GirlSupervising film editor1970 The Liberation of L.B. JonesSupervising editorEleventh collaboration with William Wyler1971 Cactus in the SnowA. Martin Zweiback Supervising film editor1972 The CowboysMark Rydell1982 And They're OffTheodore H. Kuhns IIISupervising editor

+ Second unit or assistant director Year Film Director Role Notes1958 The Big Country William WylerDirector: Second unit1965 The Collector Second unit director1966 How to Steal a Million 1970 The Only Game in TownGeorge StevensThird collaboration with George Stevens The Liberation of L.B. JonesWilliam Wyler

Shorts

+ Editor Year Film Director 1943 Double UpBen Holmes Hold Your TemperLloyd French Gem-JamsLambert Hillyer Indian SignsCharles E. Roberts Radio RunaroundLambert Hillyer Hot Foot Ben Holmes Seeing Nellie Home Cutie on Duty Unlucky Dog Wedtime Stories 1944 Prunes and Politics Say Uncle Poppa Knows Worst

TV movies

+ Second unit or assistant director Year Film Director Role1971 In Search of AmericaPaul BogartSecond unit director

TV series

+ Editor Year Title Notes1952 Your Jeweler's Showcase5 episodes1956 Sneak Preview1 episode1965 Peyton Place8 episodes

See also List of film director and editor collaborations

References

External links