Gene Ruggiero | |
|---|---|
 James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan inThe Shop Around the Corner (1940) | |
| Born | Gene S. Ruggiero (1910-06-20)June 20, 1910 |
| Died | February 19, 2002(2002-02-19) (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Film editor |
| Spouse | |
Gene S. Ruggiero (June 20, 1910 – February 19, 2002) was an American film editor. Originally agolf caddy at an exclusive New Yorkcountry club, Ruggiero was fired from his job and later went toMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer where he was assigned the job of editing. He was initially unhappy with his job and would often skip working to play golf, demoted to assistant editor due to this.
Ruggiero came to prominence after editing the 1939 filmNinotchka. As nobody else would edit the film due toErnst Lubitsch's reputation, the job was assigned to Ruggiero. He received his first credit on the film, and continued as an editor for the rest of his career. Ruggiero earned anAcademy Award for Best Film Editing in 1956 for his work onAround the World in 80 Days, which he shared withPaul Weatherwax. He was also nominated for an Academy Award in 1955 for his editing onOklahoma!, which he shared withGeorge Boemler.
Gene S. Ruggiero was born inLong Island on June 20, 1910, the son of Phillip and Teresa Ruggiero. His parents immigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy in 1903 and his father worked as a skilled mason. He grew up inManhasset, New York with his seven siblings (Michael, Frank, Joseph, Jack, Ana, Elizabeth, and Mary). DuringWorld War II, he served in the army.[1] Ruggiero enjoyed the sport ofgolf and, before becoming a film editor, he worked as a caddy at a New York country club. Ruggiero often caddied for American film studio executiveNicholas Schenck. On days where Schenck's group was lacking a fourth player, they often invited Ruggiero to play. However, after playing a game with the group one day, Ruggiero returned to the clubhouse find the head angry with him for neglecting his caddy duties. Ruggiero was fired from his job.[2]
Ruggiero approached Schenck, and requested assistance in becoming employed. Since Schenck was head ofMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer on the east coast division, he decided to send Ruggiero there, with a letter written by Schenk that would ensure Ruggiero would earn a job at the studio. When Ruggiero arrived, he was assigned the job of film editor. Ruggiero found himself displeased with the menial work, and often did not show up at the studio, choosing to play golf instead. He was demoted to assistant editor when his skipping was found out, and worked on severalJohnny Weissmuller films.[2]
Ruggiero received his first film credit in 1939, on the filmNinotchka.[3]Ernst Lubitsch, the director of the film, had a reputation with the studio which made the other editors refuse to cut the film. Ruggiero was picked as the last option. The film brought Ruggiero to prominence and he worked as a main editor for the rest of his career.[2] AfterNinotchka, he editedRichard Thorpe's action filmTarzan Finds a Son! withFrank Sullivan,[4] while editing the comedyJoe and Ethel Turp Call on the President by himself.[5]
In 1940, he editedThe Shop Around the Corner, another Lubitsch film. TwoDr. Kildare filmsStrange Case andCrisis were also edited by Ruggiero this year, along with theGeorge B. Seitz filmSky Murder andW. S. Van Dyke's comedyI Love You Again. The next year saw Ruggiero editBlonde Inspiration byBusby Berkeley andWashington Melodrama byS. Sylvan Simon. He also cut another Tarzan picture by Thorpe entitledTarzan's Secret Treasure. Ruggiero edited the 1942 filmsA Yank on the Burma Road,Tarzan's New York Adventure,Andy Hardy's Double Life, andJackass Mail. His next credit came in 1946 on the filmThree Wise Fools, which he co-edited withTheron Warth. He edited the actorRobert Montgomery'sLady in the Lake in 1947. That same year, Ruggiero was the editor forEdward Buzzell'sSong of the Thin Man, and the final Dr. Kildare filmDark Delusion.
Big City was Ruggerio's only 1948 credit. He served as editor forThe Bribe the following year, as well asThat Midnight Kiss; Ruggerio remembered that the film's starMario Lanza would not do a film unless Ruggerio would edit it.[6] In 1950 he cutStars in My Crown andThe Toast of New Orleans. The following year he was the editor for Lanza's filmThe Great Caruso, as well asNorman Taurog'sRich, Young and Pretty andJohn Sturges'The People Against O'Hara.[7][8][9] The 1952 filmGlory Alley was Ruggierio's next credit, and in 1953 the filmsThe Clown,Rogue's March, andEasy to Love were edited by him. He editedMen of the Fighting Lady,Athena, andThe Student Prince in the following year. Along withGeorge Boemler, Ruggiero edited the 1955 filmOklahoma!. Ruggiero earned his firstAcademy Award for Best Editing nomination for his work on the film; he and Boemler lost to William A. Lyon and Charles Nelson forPicnic.[10]
I told[Todd] to go away for two weeks and leave us alone. And then we cut the monster down to something that made sense.
In 1956 he editedThe Catered Affair alongsideFrank Santillo,[11] andAround the World in 80 Days with Howard Epstein andPaul Weatherwax. Ruggiero and Weatherwax won theAcademy Award for Best Film Editing. The Oscar statuette Ruggiero earned for his work on the film was tarnished; its gold coat was removed when Ruggiero sent it out for cleansing and he never had it replated when he was able to afford doing so. Ruggiero said in March 1994 that he considered the film his best work.[6]
The films Ruggiero edited in 1957 wereThe Seventh Sin andSeven Hills of Rome. He also editedJohn Ford'sThe Wings of Eagles that year. Ruggiero recalled Ford as a "cheapskate" and that he offered Ruggiero a new putter to appease him.[6] The following year, he editedTorpedo Run, and in 1959 he editedFor the First Time andTarzan, the Ape Man. In 1960, Ruggiero didPlatinum High School andRevak the Rebel, and editedThe Thief of Bagdad andThe Wonders of Aladdin the next year. His next credit came on the filmThe Last Man on Earth, released in 1964, which he edited with Franca Silvi. That year he also editedPanic Button andDog Eat Dog.
Ruggiero's next film wasCast a Giant Shadow byMelville Shavelson which was released it 1966; he edited the film alongsideBert Bates. He editedMarlowe andHell's Angels '69 in 1969, and was supervising editor on the TV ShowH.R. Pufnstuf, he editedNoon Sunday and was an associate producer on Kemek both in 1970, in 1972 he served as editor onWilliam Girdler'sAsylum of Satan. In 1973 he edited Bert I. Gordon'sThe Police Connection, as well as a post-production supervisor on Running Wild and 2 episodes ofBob & Carol & Ted & Alice (TV Series), The 1974 television pilotWonder Woman was his next credit; he also editedBlack Eye that same year. He edited the 1975 filmBoss Nigger; as well as Paesano: A Voice in the Night that same year, he also worked with his wife Eva on 1976'sAdiós Amigo. He worked onThe World through the Eyes of Children in 1975 and in 1976 he worked on the short Circasia andPaco, In 1977. Ruggiero's next editing credit for came in 1977 for his work on Gus Trikonis'Moonshine County Express.
Ruggiero was supervising editor on William Girdler's last filmThe Manitou in 1978, He edited one episode each of the 1979 seriesBilly and the 1980 TV ShowBreaking Away, He was Supervising Editor on Savage Journey a 1983 TV re-edit of a 1977 film Brigham, he was an associate producer on the 1985 Low-Budget cult classicNight Train to Terror and co-producer on 1987'sCry Wilderness.
Ruggiero's final editing credit came on the 1988 low budget filmBloody Wednesday.
Ruggiero was elected as a member of theAmerican Cinema Editors. In 1994, he earned anAmerican Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award, presented byMartin Scorsese. He criticized the low amount of money he was being paid each year; in 1994 the Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan was only giving him $242.71 a month - by contrast, younger editors were earning around $1,250. Ruggiero believed that since he had worked his whole life in the film industry, he was owed a higher amount.[6]
Ruggiero married Eva Nohavka in Italy on April 9, 1966. They divorced in 1988.[1] By 1994, Eva had brought Gene back to live with her. By this time, he had been suffering fromherpes zoster and nearly all of his teeth were missing.[6] He then lived inOgden, Utah for four years before his death on February 19, 2002. Ruggiero is survived by his two children and four grandchildren. His seven siblings have all since passed.[1]
TV Shows
H.R. Pufnstuf 1969-1970 17 Episodes Supervising Editor
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice TV Series 1973 2 Episodes
Billy 1979 1 Episode
Breaking Away TV Series 1980 1 Episode
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