April 14, 1942–Jan. 27, 2023
Honoring the life of a Colgate University alumnus who helped shape some of the biggest movies
In his career as a cinematographer and film editor, Robert Dalva ’64 helped shape some of the highest-grossing movie franchises. His work on films such as Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Jurassic Park III (2001), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) cemented his legacy in the industry.
At Colgate, Dalva studied English and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau (PKT). In the early ’60s, PKT ran the campus film program, which sparked Dalva’s interest in the subject. Typically, a senior in PKT would run the program, but by the end of Dalva’s first year, he was given the leadership role — and the work became an educational opportunity.
“I started booking films, and I basically could bring whatever films I wanted to the campus,” explained Dalva in a 2021 interview with the Legends & Masters Show. “I did a lot of research and read a lot. It became a film education — [although] I didn’t know at that time I was going to go into film.”
Naturally, Dalva’s interests in stagecraft and academics began to run together. “In my junior year, I directed a play,” Dalva recalled on Legends & Masters. “I went into the drama department — because it was such great fun, I just got interested in life. From that point on, I became interested in doing that.”
From there, Dalva enrolled in a filmmaking class at Syracuse University, where he commuted to every Friday to develop his camera-handling skills. He also met a student, Marcia, who would later become his wife. Marcia encouraged him to apply to filmmaking schools, and he enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) after his Colgate graduation.
Dalva had one especially talented classmate at USC: George Lucas. In their peership, Dalva and Lucas developed a working relationship that landed Dalva a second-unit photography position in the first Star Wars film. He recorded an iconic shot: Luke Skywalker and C-3PO riding in a bullet- shaped “landspeeder” hovercraft, racing across the desert. The scene showcased an early example of on-set special effects. Dalva placed mirrors around the base of what he referred to as a “souped-up golf cart” and cast light to create a shadow beneath the cart, which created the illusion of a hovercraft.
Dalva’s success continued post–Star Wars. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Film Editing in 1979 for his work on Francis Ford Coppola’s The Black Stallion. Dalva went on to direct its sequel, The Black Stallion Returns, in 1983.
His collaborations with Lucas and Coppola were but a few of his proudest achievements. He went on to join the editing teams on Jumanji (1995), Jurassic Park III, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Dalva excelled in his career as editor, and stated his passion for the entire filmmaking process — whether it was crafting a shot or holding the camera.
“I love directing. I wish I had done more. But I also love editing,” said Dalva in a 2012 interview with Dig IN Magazine. “Editing is an intricate look into all of these pieces, trying to put them together and tell a story. That’s really what the magic is.”
Dalva is survived by Marcia and their four children.