Viola Lawrence
- Known for
- Editing
- Born
- December 1, 1894
- Died
- November 20, 1973 (aged 78)
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Viola Mallory Lawrence (December 2, 1894, New York – November 20, 1973) is considered by many to be the first woman film editor in Hollywood. She was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing: for Pal Joey (1957), with Jerome Thoms; and for Pepe (1960), with Al Clark. She began working at Vitagraph Studios in Flatbush, Brooklyn as a messenger at the age of 11. At 12, she was holding title cards. In 1915, she became the second female film cutter in cinema history, after Anna McKnight, who also worked at Vitagraph. She married Frank Lawrence, her film cutting teacher at Vitagraph. In 1917, she moved to Hollywood and worked for Universal, First National, Gloria Swanson Productions and Columbia Pictures at various times. She became Columbia's "head editor" or "supervising editor" in 1925. After director Erich von Stroheim was fired from the production of Queen Kelly (1929), star Gloria Swanson herself directed an alternate ending, with the help of cinematographer Gregg Toland and Lawrence. Lawrence edited Samuel Goldwyn Studio's first sound film, Bulldog Drummond (1929). She rejoined Columbia in 1934 and remained there for the rest of her long career, ending with Pepe (1960). Orson Welles biographer Charles Higham wrote that, when Lawrence was assigned to The Lady from Shanghai (1947), she reported to studio boss Harry Cohn that "the footage was a jumbled mess". She also informed Cohn that Welles "had not shot a single close-up"; Welles reluctantly obeyed orders to add some. Following poorly received previews, the studio had Lawrence make drastic cuts, over an hour of footage, shortening the film to 87 minutes.
Known For
Filmography
Who Was That Lady?
Movie · Editor
Pepe
Movie · Editor
Pal Joey
Movie · Editor
Jeanne Eagels
Movie · Editor
The Eddy Duchin Story
Movie · Editor
Queen Bee
Movie · Editor
Tight Spot
Movie · Editor
Three for the Show
Movie · Editor
Chicago Syndicate
Movie · Editor
The Miami Story
Movie · Editor
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
Movie · Editor
Man in the Dark
Movie · Editor
Salome
Movie · Editor
Miss Sadie Thompson
Movie · Editor
Affair in Trinidad
Movie · Editor
The First Time
Movie · Editor
Paula
Movie · Editor
Sirocco
Movie · Editor
In a Lonely Place
Movie · Editor
Harriet Craig
Movie · Editor
The Traveling Saleswoman
Movie · Editor
The Flying Missile
Movie · Editor
Knock on Any Door
Movie · Editor
Tokyo Joe
Movie · Editor
And Baby Makes Three
Movie · Editor
The Dark Past
Movie · Editor
The Gallant Blade
Movie · Editor
The Lady from Shanghai
Movie · Editor
Down to Earth
Movie · Editor
Tonight and Every Night
Movie · Editor
She Wouldn't Say Yes
Movie · Editor
Cover Girl
Movie · Editor
Secret Command
Movie · Editor
First Comes Courage
Movie · Editor
My Sister Eileen
Movie · Editor
They All Kissed the Bride
Movie · Editor
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Movie · Editor
You Belong to Me
Movie · Editor
Bedtime Story
Movie · Editor
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance
Movie · Editor
Glamour for Sale
Movie · Editor
The Doctor Takes a Wife
Movie · Editor
Blondie Takes a Vacation
Movie · Editor
Only Angels Have Wings
Movie · Editor
The Amazing Mr. Williams
Movie · Editor
There's Always a Woman
Movie · Editor
I Am the Law
Movie · Editor
There's That Woman Again
Movie · Editor
Devil's Playground
Movie · Editor
She Married an Artist
Movie · Editor
Life Begins with Love
Movie · Editor
Speed to Spare
Movie · Editor
The King Steps Out
Movie · Editor
Craig's Wife
Movie · Editor
Lady of Secrets
Movie · Editor
Party Wire
Movie · Editor
Love Me Forever
Movie · Editor
A Feather in Her Hat
Movie · Editor
The Whole Town's Talking
Movie · Editor
No Greater Glory
Movie · Editor
Jealousy
Movie · Editor
Lady by Choice
Movie · Editor
Man's Castle
Movie · Editor
Queen Kelly
Movie · Editor
What a Widow!
Movie · Editor
Bulldog Drummond
Movie · Editor
This Is Heaven
Movie · Editor
The Awakening
Movie · Editor
Two Lovers
Movie · Editor
The Devil Dancer
Movie · Editor
The Winning of Barbara Worth
Movie · Editor
The Belle of Broadway
Movie · Editor
Bulldog Drummond
Movie · Editor
The Virgin of Stamboul
Movie · Editor
Blind Husbands
Movie · Editor
His Divorced Wife
Movie · Editor
The Heart of Humanity
Movie · Editor
Within the Law
Movie · Editor