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Film editor Sally Menke, who edited most of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, was found dead this morning this morning in the Beachwood Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills a day after she was reported missing when she didn’t come home after a hike with her dog in blistering heat conditions. She was 56. Menke edited Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, the Kill Bill duo, and Inglourious Basterds. She was nominated for an Oscar for her work on Pulp Fiction and Basterds. In addition to her collaborations with Tarantino, Menke also edited Oliver Stone’s Heaven & Earth, Lee Tamahori’s Mulholland Falls and Billy Bob Thornton’s All the Pretty Horses.
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Sad news about a very talented artist. Condolences to her friends and loved ones.
Rest In Peace, Sally.
This shook me up a bit. Sally is an amazing filmmaker and she will be missed. Way too soon for her passing.
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Major bummer. She was great.
Anybody else hike there? It can be pretty intense, esp. on a hot day.
It was 113 degrees yesterday, and nobody saw it coming.
Sure they did. Blazing hot over the entire weekend and every weather forecast on Sunday said Monday would be the worst. It’s very sad about Sally — hugely talented lady — but a bit more common sense on her part might have saved her life.
Classy.
Why point this out? You lack grace and empathy.
She was a wonderful woman.
can someone please remove matthew c’s post? completely inappropriate.
How is it inappropriate? It’s awful that she died. All I’m saying is that people need to be smarter about deciding to hike in insane heat that wasn’t a surprise to anyone who poked their head out of doors yesterday.
Then it shouldn’t surprise you that given your colossal insensitivity you’re going to be seen as a major asshole.
assholes like Matthew C. are totally oblivious to what tools they are. he’s 40 and rather large and is in front of his computer in his mom’s house, down in his converted basement where he’s never taken a woman. a ham sandwich is resting on his stomach as he sits and types. and farts. he’s a prick. ignore him.
We get it JACKASS! You’re perfect and practical and NEVER makes a bad decision. SHUT THE F*&K UP! You sound like someone who sits at homes and plays with himself to long
No they didn’t. On Sunday the projection for Monday was a high of 96; that morning, it was revised (by most forecasts I looked at) to 99. That’s hot, but it’s not a 113. More to the point, given that you have absolutely no idea exactly what happened with her and why/how she died, it’s not really appropriate for you to be talking about her alleged lack of “common sense.” The need to do this just baffles me. She wasn’t trying to climb Mt. Everest in her socks. She went for a walk in a major urban park with her dog on a hot day. Beyond that, we don’t know shit. Maybe it’ll come out in the course of things that she did make some unfortunate decisions. But maybe it won’t. Until such time (and maybe even after it), why not just leave this part of the story alone?
No, you’re wrong the local weather forecast stated numerous times that it would reach record heat from downtown LA to the coast!
Anyone who hiked after 10am and didn’t bring water was not using common sense.
I live in the valley were it was already 100 degrees for a couple days earlier.
A: Simply not true about the forecasts. They said it would be hot. Projected 96 the day before, then 99 that morning. Not 113.
B: Are you suggesting here that Sally didn’t bring water? If so, why? I’ve seen no reference to this anywhere, and I can’t believe you would know any more than anyone else about these events, including the LA Times and the cops. I’m guessing this is just ridiculous rank speculation on your part.
C: You live in the Valley. That’s swell. It was hot there. Yes. It often is. It’s often hot in Blythe and Needles and Islamabad, too. Sally was hiking in Bronson Canyon, though, so let’s return to planet earth and talk about something real. And here’s what’s real: no one posting any stupid shit comments on this board about what Sally did or didn’t do yesterday, or should have been doing or not been doing, has a fucking clue in the world what actually led to her death. It’s just unseemly beyond words to weigh in on this in the absence of any knowledge about the facts.
More broadly, though, assume it comes out that she passed as a result of some unfortunate miscalculation about the heat. Should you be commenting on this here? No. Why? Because why the fuck would you? If we need a public service announcement about this kind of thing, it’ll come from the police or whomever, who will (hopefully) tactfully, in good time, gently use this as a reminder about appropriate preparations in extreme weather. But you, now, just making some ill-informed glib remark about it on an industry website? That just makes you a dick.
Finally, consider the fact that nearly everyone who dies does so as a result of some decisions that could’ve been better, either in the short term or long term: the cigarettes smoked, the alcohol consumed, the prostate or colon exams delayed, the cholesterol warnings ignored, the headsets or seatbelts not worn. Everyone could do better about everything. No one is perfect. Are we going to chastise everyone as they now depart, then? If not, why Sally now? If she made a mistake — a huge if, for which there is as yet no evidence whatsoever — let her rest in peace. You’ve made some mistakes, too, asshole — this comment of yours now included.
well said.
What’s wrong with you? It’s 3 days until OCTOBER. What sane person would expect a 113 degree day? Most normal people don’t watch the local news or the weather. Especially when you live here and near the ocean.
You obviously don’t live in LA. So you should stop talking about something you don’t know about.
High pressure built up in Arizona and it rotated desert heat all the way to the CA coast because the on shore breeze which usually strong keeping the coast at 75 degrees was not powerful enough.
LA can be 75 in Santa Monica and over 100 in the valley which is only 15 miles inland. Please shut up
And you’re a friggin genius for saying it. Good job on the empathy, Dexter.
Terribly sad news. Had the fortunate opportunity to spend some time with Sally and her team while they were cutting “Peacock” at this little bungalow on Fountain. She was a great talent and a very, very nice woman.
She will be missed, but her work lives on.
I hike there on weekday mornings and the hotter it gets, the more deserted it is. Yesterday it was practically empty. Having seen people pass out from heat stroke, my guess is it happened very fast and there was simply no passers by to help.
My condolences. She seemed like a sweet person.
Sally was the best person ever, a real doll. Don’t expect Quentin at the funeral he hasn’t spoken to his sick mother in a decade and ignore the funeral earlier this year of the woman who discovered him.
really? i guess you forgot to add roger to this list
This happened in Bronson Canyon; Last night I was there about 6:15, and one hiker told me last night said she found clothing while walking with her dog, and was questioned by the Park Rangers. The search had really begun in full force at that point, the police, helicopters, Park Rangers, and civilians. This morning, a regular told me they had found her body, she had died the dog was dehydrated, but that’s all they would say.
What’s so odd about this, is by 10:00 AM yesterday in Bronson the heat was unbearable, and the park was pretty empty compared to most days. People were turning back with their dogs because of the heat.
This is so tragic and so sad. She was a talent and inspired many women who edit in a predominantly male field.
thank you for your input her MIL is my neighbor & alot of the details other than the obvious are sketchy… every littel bit of the puzzle helps…
thank you
MANY (if not most) important feature editors are women. In fact, that is the one department that has been dominated by female talent since the invention of motion pictures.
Very sad news. As a huge Tarantino fan, I know from his championing of her, and from all those movie extras that Sally was an integral part in his filmmaking process. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
Greatest Film Editor working today…awful news. she will be deeply missed.
Trying to imagine a Tarantino film without Sally’s editing is like trying to imagine a Scorsese film without Themla Schoonmaker or a Spielberg movie without Michael Kahn.
October 28th, 1994 – I saw Pulp Fiction that night in a theater and basically felt I was witnessing the rebirth of movies.
I never forgot that feeling.
I thank you for that, Sally.
R.I.P.
G-d rest her soul
This is awful. I am deeply saddened by her loss. Condolences to her friends and family.
Shocking and very sad news. A great editor and a wonderful human being. She will be missed by her fellow editors and friends. My condolences to her husband and her loved ones.
R.I.P Sally
Ahh man…tragic..deeply saddened by this news. RIP.
I hiked yesterday at 4pm…it was hot but not life threatening if you were hydrated and took your time. Let’s not just to conclusions that the heat and hike were the culprits because we just don’t know yet. She will be missed.
We’ve lost two fabulous editor/ filmmakers this year (Sally and Dede Allen). The loss is immeasurable.
I went for a run yesterday morning and had to turn back after a mile because I was feeling nauseus and weak, and I’m a damn good athlete.
Heat stroke comes on really fast and even if there are people around you’re in deep trouble. Football players die all the time of heatstroke in training camp.
they say she didn’t even try to use her cell phone, which makes me think she passed out from the heat and that was that. I feel really sad for her.
but how about that dog staying by her side all day long and into the night. I can’t believe it survived.
Sally was my aunt. Thanks for your kind words. The others need to learn empathy and class.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I had previously riddled off some sharp comments for some of the posts above that lacked empathy – then, erased them before sending because I knew her family would be seeing this. And I don’t see the point at added fuel to ignorance. I was wrong. I should have posted my comments.
I am so sorry that you had to see posts like Mathew C’s at this time. I hope that you can feel the out-pouring of love and respect from everyone in this industry who has been inspired by your aunt’s work.
For so many of us, your aunt is – quite simply – a genius in her art.
Sorry for the loss of your aunt, NCMASON. Clearly, Sally touched so many lives because of her sweet personality, and even more lives because of her scintillating editing talent.
She accomplished so much …and left us far too soon.
My condolences go out to her associates and her family. The last time I saw Sally was two years ago and she was very genuine and gracious. Charming and kind are words that come to mind. My heart breaks for her husband Dean and her kids who are still recovering from another personal loss not too long ago. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Menke and Parisot families.
much prayers for your loss. please ignore these inappropriate comments. it’s so embarrassing.
i did NOT know your aunt but knew her work well. she was an immensely talented woman whose editing skills were clearly evident in all her movies. can’t imagine Pulp Fiction without your aunt’s work. it lives on as one of the strongest edited films of all time.
undoubtedly, she was an artist in her own right.
Class is something that one does not learn…One can be poor as a church mouse and still have class and one can be a billionaire and have none. It is like empathy…Some people are unable to feel for others and they are quick to judge and condemn. It is their loss…I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to you and everyone who knew and loved your aunt.
Your Aunt Sally was a dear friend of mine ages ago – high school @ PKY. I actually still remember her excitement and joy when you and your brother were born. Unfortunately, the two of us lost touch w/another long ago other. Yet myself, and all others, who knew her well then were still able to follow that unique sparkle, engery, etc… she possessed even as a kid over the years. Anyway, your Aunt Sally had a great influnce on my personal life. Many us from the “old” days would like to honor her in some way. Can you suggest something?
My heart and soul aches at the loss of Sally. My sincere sympathy to you, her family and beloved friends.
I think she was married to Dean Parisot? Such a talented woman, and much too young.
Sally was married to director Dean Parisot they were neighbors & friends & my mom made her wedding cake ..Sally used to come into my Starbucks every time she was in town.
it is hugely unfortunate that the friend she went hiking with didnt force her to return or call someone to go out after her..
She lost her nephew to a questionable homicide only 2 years ago..so the family has suffered enough.
She was very talented & will be missed…
What a shame, a terrible loss – god bless her and her family.
May her soul rest in PEACE.
Sally was one of the editors I looked up to and to read this, it shook me up, like the poster above said.
RIP Ms. Menke. You have and will always influence me and my work. Even though I am still in the ‘starting out’ section of my career, I had hoped to one day meet you and express my thanks for your work.
My condolences to her family and friends.
Go Fuck yourself, Matthew C. Asshole.
Matthew C…it’s always a good idea to count to 10 before hitting the submit button
Sincerest condolences to her family and friends. This is very tragic and sad news. The dog staying by her side broke my heart. What beautiful creatures. Hopefully, someone can take this dog into their household. I feel terrible for this to happen to anyone. Yes her great work will live forever and inspire generations to come.