in 1943 zinner became an apprentice film editor at the 20th century fox studios. in 1947 he became an assistant sound-effects editor at universal studios. much of his work as an assistant sound and music editor is uncredited; he worked with composers miklós rózsa, jacques ibert, andré previn, adolph deutsch, and bernard herrmann on films including "quo vadis" (1951), "singin' in the rain" (1952), "the band wagon" (1953), "gigi" (1958), and gene kelly's experimental "invitation to the dance" (1956). his first credit as a music editor was for "for the first time" (1959); his other credits for music include "x-15" (1961), the us version of "king kong vs. godzilla" (1962), and "lord jim" (1965).