Thelma Schoonmaker Reflects on Michael Powell at the Edinburgh International Film Festival
Renowned three-time Oscar winner and esteemed film editor Thelma Schoonmaker graced the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) this past Sunday, captivating the audience with heartfelt stories about her late husband, the legendary filmmaker Michael Powell. A long-time collaborator of Martin Scorsese, Schoonmaker has made her mark on cinema by editing 22 of Scorsese’s films, earning Academy Awards for iconic titles such as Raging Bull (1981), The Aviator (2005), and The Departed (2007).
Schoonmaker’s connection to Powell blossomed through Scorsese, who deeply admired the creative partnership between Powell and his fellow filmmaker Emeric Pressburger. This admiration paved the way for Schoonmaker and Powell to form a close bond. Scorsese played a crucial role in restoring Powell’s films and advocating for his legacy. “When I began my journey with Scorsese, he encouraged me to explore Powell and Pressburger films at home,” Schoonmaker shared during her discussion with producer Emma Boa at Tollcross Central Hall in Edinburgh. The event followed her introduction of a restored retrospective screening of Powell’s 1937 classic The Edge of the World.
Schoonmaker recounted a memorable dinner with Scorsese and Powell, recalling, “Marty said, ‘You love his films. Would you like to meet him?’ I was thrilled. Michael had such an intriguing presence; he didn’t speak much, but when he did, his words were impactful. No one expected us to get married.” The couple shared a loving marriage from 1984 until Powell’s passing in 1990 at the age of 84. Their filmography includes celebrated works like The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), I Know Where I’m Going! (1945), and The Red Shoes (1948).
Schoonmaker became emotional as she reflected on Powell’s relationship with Scorsese. “When Michael died, not a single British director attended his funeral,” she lamented. “But Bernardo Bertolucci was there, and Martin flew across the ocean to honor Michael, even being the first to place dirt on his grave. Their friendship was extraordinary.”
Amusingly, she recalled a moment when Powell expressed concern for Scorsese’s struggle to sell Goodfellas. “Can you believe it? He couldn’t sell Goodfellas,” she chuckled. “Studios were pressuring him to remove the drug elements, but Marty insisted, ‘The story of Goodfellas is the drugs. I can’t take that out.’ Michael urged me to read the script to him, and after hearing it, he told me to get Marty on the phone. He said, ‘Marty, you must make this movie. It’s the best script I’ve read in two decades.’ And somehow, Marty convinced Warner Bros. to produce it.”
Schoonmaker also shared her ongoing project to publish Powell’s diaries, some chronicling his experiences in theater directing, with the help of AI technology. “We’re using AI to transcribe Michael’s handwriting, as publishers prefer printed text,” she noted. “He wrote those diaries for his mother, so I’ll be careful to only include relevant film history, respecting his wish for privacy regarding personal matters.”
Discussing the complexities of the Powell and Pressburger partnership, Schoonmaker elaborated, “Emeric was acutely aware of the struggles facing the British film industry and sought ways to navigate them, while Michael held steadfast to his artistic vision, leading to a 20-year period of obscurity for them.”
With warmth and candor, Schoonmaker addressed various questions about Powell’s childhood, his adjustment to New York life, his influence on her editing style, and the development of their romance. “I don’t think Marty was too thrilled,” she laughed, “because he had to divide his attention between Michael and me. If I said I needed to go home to cook dinner for Michael, he had to agree! But he cherished having Michael around on set.”
Ultimately, Schoonmaker’s reflections on Powell were filled with fond memories, stating, “His zest for life was infectious. He found joy in the simplest things — the weather, the light, what he was cooking. He knew how to embrace life fully, and it was a blessing to share that with him.”
Mark your calendars for the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025, taking place from August 14 to 20.
