How did Robert Wise get his first opportunity to direct a movie?

Robert Wise received his first opportunity to direct a feature film when producer Val Lewton needed a replacement for the movie The Curse of the Cat People (1944). At the time, the production was running behind schedule, and Wise—who had established himself as a skilled editor at RKO Studios working on notable films such as Citizen Kane—was selected to step in and complete the project.1