**Robert Wise (1914-2005)** was an influential American film director and editor, renowned for his extraordinary versatility across genres. He began his career as an editor, working on iconic films like *Citizen Kane*.

He later transitioned to directing, successfully exploring genres from RKO psychological horrors (*Cat People*) to social dramas (*I Want to Live!*). He is remembered for science fiction masterpieces like *The Day the Earth Stood Still* and the innovative psychological horror *The Haunting*.

Wise won two Academy Awards for Best Director for the epic musicals *West Side Story* (co-directed) and *The Sound of Music*. His style was characterized by strong technical mastery, meticulous attention to narrative, and a unique ability to adapt to the material, always in service of the story.