Robert Earl Wise was born on September 10, 1914, in Winchester, Indiana, as the youngest of three sons to Olive R. (Longenecker) and Earl Waldo Wise, a meat packer. Both of his parents were of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent.
At the age of nineteen, Wise entered the film industry through an unusual job at RKO Radio Pictures. A sound effects editor at the studio recognized his talent and took him under his wing, making Wise his protégé.
In 1941, Orson Welles required an editor for Citizen Kane, and Wise did an outstanding job. Welles was impressed with his work and ideas, which marked the beginning of Wise's career as a director.
Wise started directing B-movies and his career progressed rapidly, resulting in the creation of many classic films. His last theatrical film, Rooftops, released in 1989, demonstrated that he was still a skilled filmmaker in his 80s.
The meticulously composed images, precise editing, and relentless pace of Rooftops made one wish that Wise had not taken a long hiatus from directing.
