R.I.P. Dede Allen

Stanley Kubrick once said that editing is the only original art form within the medium of film, cinematography being rooted in still photography, acting and directing in the theater, writing in literature. Dede Allen, a master and pioneer of this art form, passed away over the weekend at the age of 86. She edited groundbreaking classics such as The Hustler, Bonnie and Clyde, and Dog Day Afternoon. For those who haven't seen Bonnie and Clyde, put that at the top of your Netflix queue right now. Allen's contribution to the construction of that film's violent conclusion is deservedly famous, but for now check out the film's opening below. Pay attention to the way the cuts inside the bedroom intensify Faye Dunaway's performance and the sense of her character's sexual frustration, melting away into lengthier shots once she goes outside to meet Warren Beatty's Clyde.