Ralph Kemplen
About
Biography
Biography
London-born Ralph Kemplen began his career as a teenager working on silent films like "The Return of the Rat" (1929). He also worked on the partial sound feature, "Balaclava/The Jaws of Hell" (1930) before receiving his first screen credit for "Frightened Lady" (1932). After working for the British Ministry of Information editing documentaries during WWII, Kemplen came into his own as an editor in the 1950s, particularly with his work for John Huston. His deft cutting of "The African Queen" (1951) particularly enhanced the endemic tension of the numerous hazards of the journey. He and Huston went on to work on "Moulin Rouge" (1952), which brought Kemplen the first of three Oscar nominations, "Beat the Devil" (1953), "Freud" (1962) and "The Bible" (1966). Other notable films to which he contributed were Fred Zinneman's Oscar-winning "A Man for All Seasons" (1966) and "The Day of the Jackal" (1972), Carol Reed's musical "Oliver!" (1968) and Jim Henson's "The Great Muppet Caper" (1981). Kemplen also directed one film, "The Spaniard's Curse" (1958).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Life Events
1929
Worked on the crew for the silent "Return of the Rat"
1932
First credit as editor, "Frightened Lady"
1952
Received first of three Oscar nominations for John Huston's "Moulin Rouge"
1968
Nominated for a Best Editing Oscar for "Oliver!"
1972
Received third Oscar nomination for "The Day of the Jackal"
1982
Final film, "The Dark Crystal"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
