Sidney M. Katz

Editor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his nearly hour-and-a-half interview, Sidney M. Katz (1918-2009) discusses his early life and his time in the Army during World War II as a filmmaker and editor. He recalls going to work for RKO, working as a splicer on Orson Welles' classic feature Citizen Kane, and starting his own editing company. He talks about his time working with Edward R. Murrow on his weekly See It Now series, and in particular, working on Murrow's special broadcast dealing with Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Hollywood Blacklist. Katz outlines his fruitful association with Herbert Brodkin, including editing his classic law series, The Defenders, starring E.G. Marshall and a young Robert Reed. He discusses editing footage of The Beatles for The Ed Sullivan Show and also editing several made-for-television movies and feature films including Teacher, Teacher, The Swimmer and Diary of a Mad Housewife. He concludes with his thoughts on being honored by ACE and offers advice to aspiring editors. Karen Herman conducted the interview in a joint venture with American Cinema Editors (ACE) on February 14, 2009 at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I have a whole group of editors out there who I think I'm responsible for. The other night I was shocked when a young man come up to me and said, 'Sid Katz, I want to thank you. I remember you teaching me to cut and I'll never forget you.' And I thought that was the biggest thing."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52
Sidney M. Katz on winning a Emmy for editing The Defenders
02:02
Sidney M. Katz on splicing the feature film "Citizen Kane" and becoming an assistant editor at RKO Pictures
01:43
Sidney M. Katz on dealing with Hollywood Blacklist
01:44
Sidney M. Katz on the kind of person it takes to be an editor
02:38
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his experience as a filmmaker in World War II; on going to work for RKO and editing "Citizen Kane"
On editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on directing the series Information Please
On editing The Defenders; on working with Herbert Brodkin; on directing The Defenders and winning an Emmy for editing the show
On editing various made-for-television movies; on editing film of The Beatles for The Ed Sullivan Show; on what an editor does and his editing process

Chapter 2

On working with Frank Perry and editing the made-for-television movie Teacher, Teacher; on directing various feature films; on editing for television vs. editing for film
On his retirement and being honored by A.C.E.; on advice to aspiring editors; on career highlights and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Defenders, The

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Sidney M. Katz on editing The Defenders for producer Herbert Brodkin
10:13
Sidney M. Katz on directing the episode "The Bum's Rush" from The Defenders
01:47
Sidney M. Katz on the controversial topics of The Defenders
01:11
Sidney M. Katz on winning a Emmy for editing The Defenders
02:02

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

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Sidney M. Katz on editing film of The Beatles for The Ed Sullivan Show
02:16

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Sidney M. Katz on winning a Emmy for editing The Defenders
02:02

Nurses, The

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Sidney M. Katz on editing The Nurses and other Herbert Brodkin shows
01:14

See It Now

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52

See It Now: "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52
Topics

Advice

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Sidney M. Katz on advice to aspiring editors
00:38

Emmy Awards

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Sidney M. Katz on winning a Emmy for editing The Defenders
02:02

Historic Events and Social Change

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Sidney M. Katz on his experience as an editor and filmmaker in World War II
02:55

Hollywood Blacklist

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now  series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52
Sidney M. Katz on dealing with Hollywood Blacklist
01:44

Industry Crossroads

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now  series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52
Sidney M. Katz on dealing with Hollywood Blacklist
01:44

Television Industry

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now  series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52
Sidney M. Katz on dealing with Hollywood Blacklist
01:44
Sidney M. Katz on advice to aspiring editors
00:38

War

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Sidney M. Katz on his experience as an editor and filmmaker in World War II
02:55

World War II

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Sidney M. Katz on his experience as an editor and filmmaker in World War II
02:55
Professions

Editor

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Sidney M. Katz on what an editor does and his editing process
06:25
Sidney M. Katz on the kind of person it takes to be an editor
02:38
Sidney M. Katz on the difference between editing film and editing for television and various other projects he was involved in editing
03:08
Sidney M. Katz on advice to aspiring editors
00:38

Post-Production Professionals

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Sidney M. Katz on the kind of person it takes to be an editor
02:38
Sidney M. Katz on the difference between editing film and editing for television and various other projects he was involved in editing
03:08
Sidney M. Katz on advice to aspiring editors
00:38
Genres

Legal Dramas

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Sidney M. Katz on editing The Defenders
12:01
People

Herbert Brodkin

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Sidney M. Katz on editing The Defenders for producer Herbert Brodkin
10:13
Sidney M. Katz on editing The Nurses  and other Herbert Brodkin shows
01:14

E. G. Marshall

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Sidney M. Katz on editing The Defenders for producer Herbert Brodkin
10:13
Sidney M. Katz on directing the episode "The Bum's Rush" from The Defenders
01:47

Edward R. Murrow

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Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy
03:52

Robert Reed

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Sidney M. Katz on directing the episode "The Bum's Rush" from The Defenders
01:47

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