Book Review: A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits—Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mission: Impossible, and More by Paul Hirsch

 

A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits—Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mission: Impossible, and More by Paul Hirsch

369 pages, Paperback

 May, 2021 by Chicago Review Press

I am going to point out how this book was suggested to me, for a very unique reason. Jacob Hall is a film critic and podcaster I respect. As an editor for /Film Jacob is on the site’s podcast from time to time. He also does a podcast currently On hiatus called Trekking Through Time and Space that I am a huge fan of. Jacob has great reading taste, He suggested this book on one of the podcasts and I put it on hold at the library almost instantly. It was a few months before the hold came through but I wanted to mention this because as someone who recommends lots of books on my podcast, it is nice to know when people reach out and say – yeah that book ruled.  

Thanks, Jacob!

First, let’s talk about what this book is. Film editing before personal computers and the current technology is a seriously lost art form. The relationship authors have with book editors is one thing, but the relationship between film editors is even more intense. When we write novels our editors work with our words, it is an intimate relationship but it is entirely words. A film editor works with pictures, actors' performances, music, pace, and energy. There is a reason certain filmmakers and editors are tied together forever. When Tarantino’s long-time editor died his movies were very different.

Anyone who loves movies will love Paul Hirsh’s stories. He started working with Brian DePalma and his big break was working on Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back. He also worked on Mission Impossible and a Couple John Hughes movies. His stories are amazing.

There is one major reason I would suggest this book is for writers and storytellers there is lots of great advice about how film meets the storytelling process. He tells one story about editing Star Wars. He has lots of stories about little ways he influenced the franchise, including picking Lightsaber colors, that would eventually take on canon meaning, and suggesting a change to Vader’s ship so you knew which one he was in. My favorite though is when he suggested flipping the scene when Luke and Ben watch Leia’s message to the end of the scene after Ben tells him Clone war stories. “We moved the beginning of the scene, as written, to the middle  now when they hear the full message, they react to it immediately instead of ignoring it.”  

There are lots of stories about the grassroots experience that making Star Wars was, and it should give the reader a certain respect for the risk they were taking. I also love a story he told about Marcia Lucas (George’s wife) who was an editor on the film and took days working on the shot of the Falcon saving the day at the Death star. She said if the audience doesn’t cheer we are toast.  There is a cool story about the first audience they showed it to and the editors sharing a look.

There are lots of neat stories of working with Directors and actors. I liked hearing about Empire Strikes Back and the Shining being made at the same time on the same lot. Hirsch worked in Hollywood on massive hits and flops. He saw the technology change. This is a fascinating look at the industry from one master of the craft’s experience. Highly recommended.