Adrienne Fazan


Adrienne Fazan was an American film editor who first started cutting films in 1933. She worked on many MGM films, including The Tell-Tale Heart, Anchors Aweigh, Singin' in the Rain, and Kismet.

Biography

Fazan was born in Germany, to John Fazan and Magdalena Fremdling. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1923, and by 1930 was living in Los Angeles and working as a film editor at a studio.

Career

Adrienne Fazan started cutting and editing in films in 1933 and then she went to work at MGM, who were known for hiring the most qualified and talented people.
Fazan worked with Dorothy Arzner on many of her films where she helped Fazan move from working on short films, to editing popular feature films. Fazan also collaborated with Vincente Minnelli on eleven films, including the Oscar winning film, Gigi.
Fazan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for An American in Paris, and received the award for Gigi. Both of these films were directed by Vincente Minnelli. She retired in 1970 after editing The Cheyenne Social Club''.

Personal life

Fazan was likely gay. According to actress Debbie Reynolds, "There was one woman at MGM Studios who was an editor called Adrienne, and she wore men's tailored suits and a skirt. She taught me how to cut and edit film. This was a very talented, very educated woman and she lived with another lady. Now that's going back to 1949 and the '50s and the '60s, when gay women were not out."

Films edited

;Short documentaries
YearFilmDirector
1939Prophet Without HonorFelix E. Feist
1940Utopia of Death
1941Triumph Without DrumsJoseph M. Newman
1942Mr. Blabbermouth!Basil Wrangell
1943Portrait of a GeniusSammy Lee

;Shorts
YearFilmDirector
1936Little Boy BlueEdwin Lawrence
1939How to EatRoy Rowland
1939The Day of RestBasil Wrangell
1939See Your DoctorBasil Wrangell
1939Miracle at LourdesHenry K. Dunn
1940Know Your MoneyJoseph M. Newman
1940A Door Will OpenGeorge Sidney
1940The Big PremiereEdward L. Cahn
1940All About HashEdward L. Cahn
1940Women in HidingJoseph M. Newman
1940A Failure at FiftyWill Jason
1940Buyer BewareJoseph M. Newman
1940Goin' Fishin'Edward L. Cahn
1941Respect the LawJoseph M. Newman
1941More About NostradamusDavid Miller
1941More Trifles of ImportanceBasil Wrangell
1941Coffins on WheelsJoseph M. Newman
1941Of Pups and PuzzlesGeorge Sidney
1941The Tell-Tale HeartJules Dassin
1941Strange TestamentSammy Lee
1942The Lady, or the Tiger?Fred Zinnemann
1942Further Prophecies of NostradamusDavid Miller
1943Brief IntervalSammy Lee
1943Inca GoldWill Jason
1943InflationCy Endfield
1943Journey to YesterdayHarold Daniels
1943Ode to VictoryEdward L. Cahn
1943My TomatoWill Jason
1943No News Is Good NewsWill Jason
1944Somewhere, U.S.A.
1944A Great Day's ComingRobert Elwyn