Editing Lewis Milestone (section)

==Early life==

Lev or Leib Milstein was born  in [[Chișinău|Kishinev]], capital of [[Bessarabia]], [[Russian Empire]] (now Chișinău, Moldova), into a wealthy, distinguished family of Jewish heritage.<ref>Millichap, 1981 p. 26: "born in [[Odessa]] [into] a clan of prominent Russian Jews{{nbsp}}... his father a well-off manufacturer" and "until 1919, Milestone retained his surname, Milstein".<br />Silver, 2010: "Lewis Milestone (1895–1980) was born Lev Milstein near Odessa, Ukraine."<br />Barson, 2020: "Lewis Milestone, original name Lev Milstein, born September 30, 1895 in Kishinyov, Russia [now Chișinău, Moldova]."<br />Robinson, 1970 pp. 141&ndash;142: "Lewis Milestone was born in [[Chișinău|Kishmev, Ukraine]]"<br />Canham, 1974 p. 72: "born in the Ukraine, near Odessa."</ref> Milstein received his primary education at Jewish schools, reflecting his parents' liberal social and political orientation, and including a study of several languages. Milstein's family discouraged his early love of theater and his desire to follow the dramatic arts, and dispatched him to [[Mittweida]], [[Free State of Saxony|Saxony]], to study engineering.<ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: "His formal education took place in Russia [then] his parents sent him to a German engineering school in [[Mittweida]], Saxony"</ref>

After neglecting his classes to attend local theater productions, Milstein failed his coursework. He was intent on pursuing a theatrical career and bought a one-way ticket to the United States. Milstein arrived in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]], on November 14, 1913, shortly after his eighteenth birthday.<ref>Robinson, 1970 p. 141: "after commercial studies in Europe reached America, apparently as an illegal immigrant, just before the First World War."</ref><ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: Milestone abandoned his academic studies and "used his return fare home at the end of the [school] term to emigrate to New York{{nbsp}}... on arrival he was [temporarily] financed by an aunt but ran out of funds." His appeal for financial support from his father in Russia was rejected.</ref><ref>Millichap, 1981 pp. 26&ndash;27: See section The Director's Early Life And p. 27: ".free of family restrictions [in the United States], he felt he might realize his dream of a theatrical career."</ref>

Milstein, who found difficulty supporting himself in New York City, worked as a janitor, door-to-door salesman and lace-machine operator before finding a position as portrait-and-theater photographer in 1915. In 1917, shortly after the US entered  [[World War I]], he enlisted in the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Army Signal Corps]]. Milstein was stationed in New York City and Washington, D.C., and was assigned to the corps' photography unit, where he trained in aerial photography, assisted on training films and edited documentary combat footage. His cohorts in the Signal Corps included future Hollywood directors [[Josef von Sternberg]] and [[Victor Fleming]].<ref>Millichap, 1981 pp. 26&ndash;27: he held a series of odd jobs, including janitor, door-to-door salesman and machine operation in a lace factory{{nbsp}}.... In 1915 [he secured a job] as a photographer's assistant{{nbsp}}... more to his liking{{nbsp}}... [then became] a theatrical photographer" and p. 27: In 1917, upon America's entry into WWI "he enlisted in the photography section of the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] [performing] aerial photography [and shooting] training films{{nbsp}}... also edited combat footage" and Sternberg and Fleming mentioned.</ref><ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: "He began work as a factory sweeper, then became a salesman and finally a photographic assistant. The latter job stood him in good stead when he enlisted in the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] in 1917" where he worked as "an assistant in the making of army training films."<br />Barson, 2020: "During World War I he served as an assistant director on training films for the U.S. Army."<br />Whiteley, 2020: Milestone "received a thorough grounding in all aspects of filmmaking [with the Signal Corps], which would prove invaluable in the years to come."</ref> In February 1919, Milstein was discharged from the army, immediately obtained US citizenship, and legally changed his surname to Milestone. An acquaintance from the Signal Corps [[Jesse D. Hampton]], now an independent film producer, secured Milestone an entry-level position as an assistant editor in Hollywood.<ref>Millichap, 1981 pp. 27&ndash;28: Upon discharge from the Army in 1919 "Milestone became a [US] citizen and changed his name [from Milstein to Milestone] at the suggestion of the [immigration] judge" and "Jesse D. Hampton, an independent film producer{{nbsp}}.... Milestone asked for a job in [Hollywood] movies; the only thing available was assistant editor."</ref><ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: "he left the army in 1919 and headed for Hollywood, where he found employment as a cutter with Jesse Hampton" a former army comrade, now 'independent producer"</ref>

===Hollywood apprenticeship 1919–1924===

When Milestone arrived in Hollywood, he was still in financial difficulties. He later said to sustain himself until his studio job commenced, he briefly worked as a card dealer at a [[Los Angeles City Oil Field]] gambling venue.<ref>Millichap, 1981 p. 28: An unpublished interview with Mark Lambert, see Millichap footnote. And See p. 28 for comparison to 1913 arrival in America.<br />Silver, 2010: Silver describes Milestone as "émigré, not "immigrant"<br />Koszarski, 1976 p. 317: "Milestone was a Russian émigré."</ref><ref>Strago, 2017: "Like most great pioneer filmmakers, Milestone led an adventurous life before he hit the soundstage."</ref>

Milestone accepted mundane assignments from Hampton{{who|reason=Who is Hampton?|date=June 2023}} at $20 per week, and progressed from assistant editor toward director. In 1920 he was chosen as general assistant to director [[Henry King (director)|Henry King]] at [[Pathé Exchange]]. Milestone's first credited work was as assistant on King's film ''[[Dice of Destiny]]'' (1920).<ref>Millichap, 1981 p. 28: For Hampton he performed "a multitude of off jobs{{nbsp}}... sweeping floors and running errands{{nbsp}}... editing work consisted merely of splicing films{{nbsp}}... [but] "personal contacts would prove valuable in his steady advancement{{nbsp}}... became King's general assistant" in 1920</ref><ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: Began work as "a cutter"And "promoted to the role of general assistant" for Henry King.</ref><ref>Barson, 2020: "He launched his Hollywood career in 1920, working for Henry King."</ref>

During the next six years, Milestone "took on jobs in any capacity available" in the Hollywood film industry, working as editor for director-producer [[Thomas H. Ince|Thomas Ince]], as general assistant and co-author on film scripts by [[William A. Seiter]] and as a gag writer for comedian [[Harold Lloyd]]. In 1923, Milestone followed Seiter{{who|reason=Who is Seiter?|date=June 2023}} to [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers]] studios as assistant director on [[Little Church Around the Corner (film)|Little Church Around the Corner]] (1923), completing most of the film-making tasks on the production.<ref>Millichap, 1981 p. 28</ref><ref>Canham, 1974 p. 72: "For the next six years [1921–1926] Milestone took on jobs in any capacity available: he assisted [[William A. Seiter]], wrote scenarios and treatments and did some editing."</ref> Milestone's reputation as an effective "film doctor" who was skilled at salvaging movies led Warner to began offering Milestone's services to other studios at inflated rates.<ref>Millichap, 1981 pp. 28&ndash;29: "Warners often lent out the young editor to other studios at several times his salary".</ref>