Thelma Schoonmaker on Scorsese's Bond with Powell and AI in Publishing Her Husband's Diaries

A Celebration of Art, Friendship, and Legacy

Thelma Schoonmaker, a three-time Oscar-winning film editor and long-time collaborator with Martin Scorsese, recently took center stage at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. During an event held on Sunday, she shared insights into the life and work of her late husband, Michael Powell, one of British cinema’s most influential figures. The conversation, which took place at Tollcross Central Hall, was part of a retrospective screening of Powell’s 1937 film The Edge of the World, a restored version that highlighted the enduring impact of his artistry.

Schoonmaker has worked on 22 films by Scorsese, earning Academy Awards for Raging Bull (1981), The Aviator (2005), and The Departed (2007). Her connection to Powell began through Scorsese, who deeply admired the partnership between Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Scorsese played a key role in reviving interest in Powell’s work, helping to restore his films and ensuring his legacy was recognized.

“When I first started working with Scorsese, he immediately started giving me Powell and Pressburger films to take home and look at at night,” Schoonmaker recalled during the event. “He said, ‘You love his films. Would you like to meet him?’ And I said, ‘Oh, yes, I would.’ So I had dinner with Marty and Michael, and it was astounding, because Michael, even his face was so interesting.”

The pair married in 1984, and their relationship lasted until Powell’s death in 1990 at the age of 84. Among their most celebrated works are The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), I Know Where I'm Going! (1945), and The Red Shoes (1948). Schoonmaker spoke emotionally about Powell’s bond with Scorsese, recalling how the director traveled across the Atlantic to attend Powell’s funeral. “Not one British director came to his funeral,” she said. “Bernardo Bertolucci came, and Martin Scorsese flew across the Atlantic to be there and throw the first clump of dirt on Michael’s grave.”

One particularly poignant moment involved Scorsese’s struggle to get Goodfellas made. “Can you imagine - he can't sell Goodfellas?” Schoonmaker said. “And the studios were saying to him: ‘You have to take the drugs out.’ And [Scorsese] said, ‘The story of Goodfellas is the drugs. I can't take it out.’” Powell, after reading the script, encouraged Scorsese to make the film, saying it was the best script he had read in 20 years.

Beyond her work with Scorsese, Schoonmaker is also focused on preserving Powell’s legacy. She is currently working on publishing his diaries, some of which detail his foray into theater directing. To help with this task, she is using AI technology to transcribe his handwritten notes. “We have people read the diary from Michael's handwriting, because publishers want to see it in print, not handwriting,” she explained.

Schoonmaker also discussed the complex relationship between Powell and Pressburger, noting that while Emeric was more pragmatic about navigating the challenges of the British film industry, Powell remained passionate about his artistic vision. This led to a period of 20 years where their work was largely forgotten.

Throughout the event, Schoonmaker reflected on her own career, her friendship with Scorsese, and the profound influence Powell had on her life. “I think just his love of life,” she said. “What affected him every day was the weather, the light outside, the window, what he was cooking. He just knew how to get the best out of everything.”

As the Edinburgh International Film Festival continues to celebrate cinematic excellence, Schoonmaker’s reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of art, friendship, and dedication.