Aaron Stell (March 26, 1911 – January 7, 1996) was an American film editor with one hundred feature film credits and many additional credits for his television work. He is best known for his work on Touch of Evil (directed by Orson Welles-1958), To Kill a Mockingbird (directed by Robert Mulligan-1962), and Silent Running (directed by Douglas Trumbull-1972).

Early life Aaron Stell was born on March 26, 1911. After graduating from Los Angeles High School, he worked as a postmaster for Fox Film in the late 1920s.

Career Stell's earliest editing career was for Columbia Pictures, where he worked at from 1943 to 1955. He then worked for other Hollywood studios for the rest of his career. Touch of Evil, which was directed by Orson Welles, proved difficult for Stell; he was not the initial editor but instead chosen for re-editing, and he noted that Welles became "ill, depressed, and unhappy with the studio's impatience" in the process.

Stell had been selected as a member of the American Cinema Editors. He was nominated for the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award for To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). He was also nominated for Eddies for his television work on an episode of Ben Casey (1961) and on the mini-series Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980). In 1996 he shared the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award with Desmond Marquette.

Personal life and death Since the early 1940s, Stell worked as an oil painter. By 1964, he has painted over 50 paintings. Stell died in Los Angeles at age 84.

Selected filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes Other notes1943 Cowboy in the CloudsBenjamin H. KlineFirst collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline 1944 Cowboy CanteenLew LandersFirst collaboration with Lew Landers Sundown ValleyBenjamin H. KlineSecond collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline She's a Soldier TooWilliam CastleFirst collaboration with William Castle Swing in the SaddleLew LandersSecond collaboration with Lew Landers Cowboy from Lonesome River Benjamin H. KlineThird collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline Cyclone Prairie RangersFourth collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline Saddle Leather LawFifth collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline 1945 I Love a MysteryHenry Levin Sagebrush HeroesBenjamin H. KlineSixth collaboration with Benjamin H. Kline Sing Me a Song of TexasVernon KeaysFirst collaboration with Vernon Keays Rough Ridin' Justice Derwin AbrahamsFirst collaboration with Derwin Abrahams The Return of the Durango KidSecond collaboration with Derwin Abrahams Boston Blackie's RendezvousArthur DreifussFirst collaboration with Arthur Dreifuss Rustlers of the BadlandsDerwin AbrahamsThird collaboration with Derwin Abrahams Outlaws of the RockiesRay NazarroFirst collaboration with Ray Nazarro Blazing the Western TrailVernon KeaysSecond collaboration with Vernon Keays Prison ShipArthur DreifussSecond collaboration with Arthur Dreifuss 1946 Frontier GunlawDerwin AbrahamsFourth collaboration with Derwin Abrahams Blondie's Lucky DayAbby BerlinFirst collaboration with Abby Berlin It's Great to Be YoungDel LordFirst collaboration with Del Lord Blondie Knows BestAbby BerlinSecond collaboration with Abby Berlin Terror TrailRay NazarroSecond collaboration with Ray Nazarro Alias Mr. TwilightJohn SturgesFirst collaboration with John Sturges Singin' in the CornDel LordSecond collaboration with Del Lord 1947 Millie's Daughter Sidney SalkowFirst collaboration with Sidney Salkow Bulldog Drummond at BaySecond collaboration with Sidney Salkow Sport of KingsRobert Gordon The Son of RustyLew LandersThird collaboration with Lew Landers The Last Round-UpJohn EnglishFirst collaboration with John English 1948 The Sign of the RamJohn SturgesSecond collaboration with John Sturges Song of IdahoRay NazarroThird collaboration with Ray Nazarro Jungle JimWilliam BerkeFirst collaboration with William Berke Loaded Pistols John EnglishSecond collaboration with John English 1949 Riders of the Whistling PinesThird collaboration with John English The Lost TribeWilliam BerkeSecond collaboration with William Berke Rim of the CanyonJohn EnglishFourth collaboration with John English 1950 Blondie's HeroEdward BerndsFirst collaboration with Edward Bernds The PalominoRay NazarroThird collaboration with Ray Nazarro Beauty on ParadeLew LandersFourth collaboration with Lew Landers Customs AgentSeymour FriedmanFirst collaboration with Seymour Friedman On the Isle of SamoaWilliam BerkeThird collaboration with William Berke Rookie FiremanSeymour FriedmanSecond collaboration with Seymour Friedman Chain GangLew LandersFifth collaboration with Lew Landers The Tougher They ComeRay NazarroFourth collaboration with Ray Nazarro Counterspy Meets Scotland YardSeymour FriedmanThird collaboration with Seymour Friedman 1951 Gasoline AlleyEdward BerndsSecond collaboration with Edward Bernds The Big GusherLew LandersSixth collaboration with Lew Landers Chain of CircumstanceWill Jason The Barefoot MailmanEarl McEvoy 1952 The SniperEdward DmytrykFirst collaboration with Edward Dmytryk A Yank in Indo-ChinaWallace Grissell Brave WarriorSpencer Gordon BennetFirst collaboration with Spencer Gordon Bennet Eight Iron MenEdward DmytrykSecond collaboration with Edward Dmytryk 1953 Jack McCall, DesperadoSidney SalkowThird collaboration with Sidney Salkow Ambush at Tomahawk GapFred F. SearsFirst collaboration with Fred F. Sears The JugglerEdward DmytrykThird collaboration with Edward Dmytryk 1954 Massacre Canyon Fred F. SearsSecond collaboration with Fred F. Sears The Outlaw StallionThird collaboration with Fred F. Sears The Law vs. Billy the KidWilliam CastleSecond collaboration with William Castle Human DesireFritz Lang The Black DakotasRay NazarroFifth collaboration with Ray Nazarro 1955 Creature with the Atom BrainEdward L. Cahn Devil GoddessSpencer Gordon BennetSecond collaboration with Spencer Gordon Bennet Hell's HorizonTom Gries 1956 The Bold and the BraveLewis R. Foster 5 Steps to DangerHenry S. Kesler 1957 Fear Strikes OutRobert MulliganFirst collaboration with Robert Mulligan Beginning of the EndBert I. Gordon Time LimitKarl Malden 1958 Touch of EvilOrson Welles The Proud RebelMichael Curtiz Tarzan's Fight for LifeH. Bruce Humberstone LonelyheartsVincent J. Donehue 1959 The Giant Gila Monster Ray KelloggFirst collaboration with Ray Kellogg The Killer ShrewsSecond collaboration with Ray Kellogg 1960 My Dog, BuddyThird collaboration with Ray Kellogg Wake Me When It's OverMervyn LeRoy1961 The Secret WaysPhil Karlson 1962 Six Black HorsesHarry Keller To Kill a Mockingbird Robert MulliganSecond collaboration with Robert Mulligan1963 Love with the Proper StrangerThird collaboration with Robert Mulligan 1965 Baby the Rain Must FallFourth collaboration with Robert Mulligan Inside Daisy CloverFifth collaboration with Robert Mulligan1966 Not with My Wife, You Don't!Norman Panama1967 Welcome to Hard TimesBurt KennedyFirst collaboration with Burt Kennedy1968 The Stalking MoonRobert MulliganSixth collaboration with Robert Mulligan1969 FlareupJames Neilson1970 The GrasshopperJerry Paris 1972 Silent RunningDouglas Trumbull The Trial of the Catonsville NineGordon Davidson 1973 Your Three Minutes Are UpDouglas Schwartz Willie DynamiteGilbert Moses1974 The TakeRobert Hartford-Davis 1975 LepkeMenahem Golan Cornbread, Earl and MeJoseph Manduke The Four DeucesWilliam H. Bushnell1976 The Killer Inside MeBurt KennedySecond collaboration with Burt Kennedy1986 Native SonJerrold Freeman

+ Director Year Film Notes1964 The Gallant One Also writer and producer2004 Remnants of Auric Healing

Shorts

+ Editor Year Film Director1948 Go Chase Yourself Jules White 1952 Corny Casanovas He Cooked His Goose

TV movies

+ Editor Year Film Director 1970 But I Don't Want to Get Married!Jerry Paris Wild WomenDon Taylor Crowhaven FarmWalter Grauman1972 The Couple Takes a WifeJerry Paris1973 Fade InJud Taylor 1975 The Trial of Chaplain JensenRobert Day Shell Game Glenn Jordan1976 One of My Wives Is Missing 1977 Night TerrorE. W. Swackhamer The Amazing Howard HughesWilliam A. Graham 1978 Deadman's CurveRichard Compton Steel CowboyHarvey Laidman One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore StoryWilliam A. Graham 1979 Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie PrinzeBurt Brinckerhoff Orphan Train William A. Graham 1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones Rage! My Kidnapper, My LoveSam Wanamaker 1981 Isabel's ChoiceGuy Green Incident at Crestridge Jud Taylor 1982 A Question of Honor American EagleWilliam A. Graham

TV pilots

+ Editor Year Film Director1965 My Island FamilyHenry Koster1977 The Displaced PersonGlenn Jordan

TV series

+ Editor Year Title Notes 1954 Ford Theatre4 episodes Father Knows Best2 episodes1954−55 The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin6 episodes 1956 The People's Choice3 episodes The Count of Monte Cristo9 episodes1957 The New Adventures of Charlie Chan 2 episodes1959 Death Valley Days1963 Ben Casey 1 episode1970 The Most Deadly Game 1977 The Amazing Howard Hughes2 episodes The Amazing Spider-Man 1 episode Space Academy1978 The Paper Chase1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones2 episodes1985 Otherworld1 episode

References

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