Danford B. Greene


Danford B. "Danny" Greene was an American film and television editor with about twenty five feature film credits. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for MASH and, with John C. Howard, for Blazing Saddles.
Greene graduated from the University of Southern California in 1952. After assisting at Metro Goldwyn Mayer, he became the head of sound editing at Universal Studios, where he worked on Psycho. In the 1960s Greene worked mostly as an editor for episodes of television series such as Thriller and Judd, for the Defense. He broke into feature films with That Cold Day in the Park, which was directed by Robert Altman. The following year he edited MASH with Altman, which was an anti-war comedy that became a phenomenal success while the U.S. was still fighting the Vietnam War. The film was the third highest-grossing film in the U.S. in 1970, making more than $36 million in the U.S. on a budget of $3 million. Editing was an important aspect of the film's success. The film spawned a long-running television series, and in 1996 was listed on the National Film Registry.
Following MASH Greene worked regularly editing feature films through 1994, although he did not work with Robert Altman again. He directed one feature film The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud. Other films edited by Greene include Blazing Saddles, Fun with Dick and Jane, American Hot Wax, and Rocky II. Greene's last feature credit was for There Goes My Baby, which was his fourth collaboration with director Floyd Mutrux. He then taught editing at the American Film Institute and the Los Angeles Film School.
Very early in his editing career, Greene was nominated for the American Cinema Editors Eddie award for a 1962 episode of the television series It's a Man's World. Greene's editing of MASH was widely recognized, and he was nominated for the Academy Award, the BAFTA Award and the Eddie award for the film. He was again nominated for the Academy Award for Blazing Saddles.

Selected filmography

YearFilmDirectorRoleNotes
1972Wild in the SkyWilliam T. NaudSupervising editor
1978American Hot WaxFloyd MutruxSupervising film editorSecond collaboration with Floyd Mutrux
1978Loose ShoesIra MillerEditorial supervisor
1979Rocky IISylvester StalloneSupervising film editor
1980The Hollywood KnightsFloyd MutruxSupervising editorThird collaboration with Floyd Mutrux
1981History of the World, Part IMel BrooksAdditional editorSecond collaboration with Mel Brooks
1981SurfacingClaude JutraEditorial consultant
1986Never Too Young to DieGil BettmanAdditional editor

YearFilm
1984The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud

;Shorts
YearFilmDirectorRole
2011To BeautyJess Zakira WiseSupervising editor

YearFilmDirectorRole
2003Frame of MindSimon JoeckerSpecial thanks
2008Started by a MouseMichael GaddieSpecial thanks
2008IsmeriaKaren A. ThompsonVery special thanks
2010MontanaSpecial thanks
2010These Four WallsCédric ChablozSpecial thanks
2011FrontmanCaleb C. WerntzSpecial thanks
2011Family FirstIsaac CheremSpecial thanks
2013RelevéVishal SolankiSpecial thanks

;TV movies
YearFilmDirector
1964Nightmare in ChicagoRobert Altman

;TV series
YearTitleNotes
1960Shotgun Slade2 episodes
1961−62Thriller6 episodes
1962It's a Man's World8 episodes
1963−64Alfred Hitchcock Presents2 episodes
1963−64Kraft Suspense Theatre5 episodes
1964McHale's Navy2 episodes
1964Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1 episode
1964−65Broadside29 episodes
1966The Munsters1 episode
1966The Virginian1 episode
1967Mr. Terrific4 episodes
1967−69Judd, for the Defense13 episodes

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Makin' It LASpecial thanks6 episodes

;TV specials
YearFilmDirector
1966A Bob Hope Comedy SpecialJack Shea