Ian Crafford, who edited notable films including John Boorman’s “Hope and Glory” and “Field of Dreams,” died July 22 of cancer at his home in Brazil. He was 82.
Born in Hemel Hempstead, U.K., Crafford started working at Elstree Studios at the age of 17 and enjoyed it so much he never returned to school, according to his son Scott.
He went on to become the youngest first assistant editor in England, working with editors such as the renowned Ann Coates. He worked in several departments including sound, ADR (Sophia Loren requested him to do her ADR, his son noted), and worked on sound effects for “Monty Python’s Holy Grail” in 1975.
One of his first credits as editor was working with Richard Burton on “Medusa Touch.” He went on to serve as editor for the James Bond film “Never Say Never Again,” directed by Irvin Kershner, in 1983. In 1985, he traveled with Boorman to Brazil for the production of “Emerald Forest,” and fell in love with the country to which he later retired.
Crafford received a BAFTA nomination for editing Boorman’s next film “Hope and Glory,” about a young boy living in London during the WWII bombings. He moved to America, where he edited the Kevin Costner-starring “Field of Dreams,” for which he received an ACE Eddie nomination, the book adaptation “The Indian in the Cupboard,” “Thunderheart” and “Class Action.”
His last film was the 2012 comedy “The Hot Potato.”
He is survived by his wife Antonia and his four children Scott, Roberta, Monyka and Paul.
