Harry W. Gerstad
Encyclopedia
Harry W. Gerstad, born Harry Donald Gerstad (June 11, 1909 - July 17, 2002) was an American film editor who sometimes directed films. The Academy Award-winning editor also worked on television. He edited as well as directed for the 1950s program Adventures of Superman
. In the 1960s he worked for Bing Crosby productions and Batjac Productions. Gerstad retired to Palm Springs, Florida in 1973.
(1947), Rocketship X-M
(1950), Batman
(1966), The War Wagon
(1967) and Walking Tall
(1973).
(the "Oscar") twice: for the boxing drama Champion
in 1949 and for Fred Zinnemann
's seminal Western
High Noon
in 1952. However, Elmo Williams
, who was the co-editor of High Noon, indicates in his autobiography that Gerstad's credit was a nominal one. In 1997, Gerstad received the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
.
Adventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
. In the 1960s he worked for Bing Crosby productions and Batjac Productions. Gerstad retired to Palm Springs, Florida in 1973.
Noteworthy films
Gerstad's editing work spanned more than 40 films, including The Spiral Staircase (1946), CrossfireCrossfire (film)
-External links:* review at DVD Savant by Glenn Erickson* film trailer at YouTube...
(1947), Rocketship X-M
Rocketship X-M
Rocketship X-M was the second of the American science fiction feature films of the space adventure genre begun in the post-war era, in 1950...
(1950), Batman
Batman (1966 film)
Batman, often promoted as Batman: The Movie, is a 1966 film based on the Batman television series, and the first full-length theatrical adaptation of the DC Comics character of the same name. Released by 20th Century Fox, the film starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The film was...
(1966), The War Wagon
The War Wagon
The War Wagon is a 1967 western Technicolor film starring John Wayne, released by Universal Pictures, directed by Burt Kennedy, and adapted by Clair Huffaker from his own novel. The film, which featured Wayne in one of his few roles as technically a "bad guy" , received generally positive reviews....
(1967) and Walking Tall
Walking Tall
Walking Tall is a 1973 semi-biopic of Sheriff Buford Pusser, a former professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee. It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser...
(1973).
Awards and nominations
He won the Academy Award for Film EditingAcademy Award for Film Editing
The Academy Award for Film Editing is one of the annual awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Nominations for this award are closely correlated with the Academy Award for Best Picture. Since 1981, every film selected as Best Picture has also been nominated for the Film Editing...
(the "Oscar") twice: for the boxing drama Champion
Champion (1949 film)
Champion is an American film noir drama based on a short story by Ring Lardner. Filmed in black-and-white, it recounts the struggles of boxer "Midge" Kelly fighting his own demons while working to achieve success in the boxing ring. The drama was directed by Mark Robson, with cinematography by...
in 1949 and for Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann was an Austrian-American film director. He won four Academy Awards and directed films like High Noon, From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons.-Life and career:...
's seminal Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
High Noon
High Noon
High Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself...
in 1952. However, Elmo Williams
Elmo Williams
Elmo Williams is an American film and television editor, director, producer, and executive. His work on the film High Noon received the Academy Award for Film Editing...
, who was the co-editor of High Noon, indicates in his autobiography that Gerstad's credit was a nominal one. In 1997, Gerstad received the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award
The American Cinema Editors gives one or more Career Achievement Awards each year. The first awards were given in 1987; the winners have been:*2011: Michael Kahn and Michael Brown*2010: Paul LaMastra and Neil Travis*2009: Sidney Katz and Arthur Schmidt...
.