David Bretherton; Oscar-Winning Film Editor

David Bretherton, 76, the editor of more than 50 major motion pictures who won an Academy Award in 1972 for “Cabaret.” Born in Los Angeles, Bretherton served in the Air Force during World War II before following his father, a director, into the film business. He edited his first film, “An Affair to Remember,” in 1954. Among his film credits are “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Let’s Make Love,” “The Sandpiper,” “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,” “Save the Tiger,” “Sea of Love” and “Malice.” He worked with legendary directors George Stevens, Arthur Hiller and Vincente Minnelli. “The toughest thing an editor does is eliminate,” Bretherton told The Times some years ago. “As I’m working, I ask, ‘What makes the picture better?’ ” Bretherton was a longtime member of the foreign language selection committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. On May 11 in Los Angeles of pneumonia.