Isaac Kleinerman, 87; Producer and Editor of TV Documentaries

Isaac Kleinerman, 87, a producer and editor of television documentaries, including the highly praised original series and 1960 condensation of “Victory at Sea,” died March 7 while vacationing in Bucerias, Mexico. He lived in Todi, Italy.

The “Victory at Sea” program originated in 1952 as an NBC series of 26 episodes documenting the U.S. Navy’s efforts during World War II. Kleinerman edited film for the series, which included a powerful score by Richard Rodgers that was arranged by another Broadway veteran, Robert Russell Bennett.

Kleinerman’s subsequent 1960 effort to reduce the 13 hours to a 90-minute version was lauded for retaining the strength of the original series while providing better continuity.

The producer then moved on to CBS News, where he collaborated with Burton Benjamin on the series “The 20th Century” and “The 21st Century,” for which he earned an Emmy Award.

A native of New York City, Kleinerman began working for film studios there, and edited training films when he served in the Army during World War II.

After retiring from CBS in 1975, Kleinerman and his wife, Linda Richardson, formed an independent film company, producing documentaries about the Soviet Union and China.