Blake Edwards, ‘Pink Panther’ Director, Dies at 88

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Blake Edwards, the writer/director behind the “Pink Panther” series and the Audrey Hepburn movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” died this morning. He was 88.

Edwards was born in Tulsa, OK on July 26, 1922. After his parents’ divorce, his mother remarried a film production manager (whose own father was a director), so Edwards grew up on movie sets. He began his career in film as an extra and supporting actor, before graduating to writing and directing for television and film. In 1958, Edwards’ created the Emmy-nominated detective series “Peter Gunn,” through which he began his long-standing relationship with composer Henry Mancini. Mancini would go on to write “Moon River” for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the theme songs to “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “The Pink Panther,” among others, for Edwards’ films.

Edwards married actress Julie Andrews after divorcing his first wife. Edwards would collaborate with this wife on films such as “Darling Lili,” “10,” “Victor/Victoria” and “S.O.B.” Edwards’ films are known for their stylish elements. His “Panther” movies created a fur rug/Swiss chalet aesthetic that several designers copied in recent years. And “10,” his movie about a famous composer suffering a mid-life crisis, launched Bo Derek as the sex symbol for the 1980s.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/16/blake-edwards-pink-panther-director-dies-at-88/

[AndrewP]

1. RIP Mr. Edwards

I never did care for his style of movies, but at least he put something different out there.

[callous taoboy]

2. You do not have a prop-air license for your minky.

[sarge43]

10. "Does your dog bite?"

Rest in peace, Mr Edwards and thank you.

[hamsterjill]

"That's not my minky"!

Love those movies!!!!

[callous taoboy]

28. Kaaaa- toooh, I know you are in here.

[rfranklin]

3. Victor/Victoria was hilarious, as was S.O.B.

or the scene in 10 where Dudley Moore is calling Julie Andrews after receiving too much novocaine.

Pink Panther tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPyDY5aZyXs

[valerief]

12. I love both V/V and SOB. Both are hilarious!!!! nt

[onehandle]

4. One of my favorites. My father and I shared a deep affection for the Pink Panther films.

We would see them in the theatre and watching them at home on the tube was an event.

Victor/Victoria was the last great film musical.

[John Kerry VonErich]

7. Pink Panther was his franchise, Victor/Victoria was his triumph

don't know any other directors that has done that

[hlthe2b]

5. RIP, Mr. Edwards and all our love to you, Ms. Andrews.

[MinneapolisMatt]

6. How sad.

:(

[blondeatlast]

8. Now that is tragic. SOB was absolutely one of the 5 best black comedies of all time.

Victor/Victoria was superb and the Pink Panthers were great comedy--so much so that my 13 year old son WAY prefers the Peter sellers (and BE) versions.

At lezst God's having a good converstaion today.

[SnowCritter]

24. "He stole my movie"

"I'll steal his car!"

Richard Mulligan in S.O.B.

[sarge43]

25. "I could sue you!"

"I'm not shyster. I'm a quack!"

Robert Preston, S.O.B.

[blondeatlast]

27. Robert Preston was another Edwards gem; they seemed to bring out the best in each other. nt

[sarge43]

35. Preston was delightful

Edwards probably told him, "Have fun, Bob." and didn't he just.

Then there was Robert Vaughn in a bustier and fishnets. Good thing no one was sitting in front of me. I put a mouthful of soda all over that seat. That was a wicked flick, no sacred cow left alive.

[bedazzled]

39. a shyster is a disreputable lawyer. i'm a quack. my favorite line!

robert preston was one in a million..

[sarge43]

40. Thanks for the correction.

Great line and Preston nailed it.

[Kennah]

9. Blinded by the Pink

How can a blind man be a lookout?
How can an idiot be a police officer?
...
How did you know he was blind?
He told me.

R.I.P.

[thereismore]

19. It's easy. All you have to do is enlist... And you believed him!? I had no reason to doubt him...

[sarge43]

11. Let's not forget Peter Gunn.

Very sophisticated TV for the time.

[grasswire]

13. Crazy World -- RIP Blake Edwards

Crazy world
Full of crazy contradictions, like a child.
First you drive me wild, and then you win my heart
With your wicked art.
One minute tender, gentle, then temperamental as a summer storm.
Just when I believe your heart's getting warmer, you're cold, and you're cruel.
And I like a fool, try to cope, try to hang on, to hope.

Crazy world
Every day the same old roller coaster ride.
But I've got my pride, I won't give in.
Even though I know I'll never win.
Oh, how I love this crazy world.


beautiful, beautiful song from Victor Victoria -- music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bircusse. Blake Edwards gave me so much, through Victor Victoria.

[Mad_Dem_X]

16. Love that song! My favorite from V/V was

"Le Jazz Hot." I could hear Julie sing that over and over.

Rest in peace, Mr. Edwards. Thoughts and prayers to Julie and the family. :(

[AlbertCat]

21. My favorite from V/V was "Le Jazz Hot."

What you didn't like "The Shady Dame From Seville"?.... Robert Preston's version of course.

[grasswire]

31. some of my favorite lines from VV

"I am NOT a woman" -- Julie Andrews

"You sold your virtue for a meatball??" -- Robert Preston

"Cockroach!!!!!"


I have to go buy the video today. It's my FAVORITE movie of all time.

[otohara]

14. RIP - Great Movies

I loved the Pink Panther movies w/ Peter Sellers -

[Turbineguy]

15. "I ain't no native! I was born here!"

The Great Race

[thereismore]

17. An absolute comedy genius. So many memories, so many laughs! nt

[SemperEadem]

18. My condolences to his widow, Julie Andrews and to his family

rest in peace, sir.

[MurrayDelph]

20. "And that's the way it really happened...

...give or take a lie or two."

[Botany]

22. I hope he gets a nice room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc_Ycnqm1Cc

[progressoid]

26. and without a dog in the hallway.

[ladywnch]

23. I loved The Great Race. Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Natalie Wood

and a whole bunch of "that guy" character actors. Jack Lemmon as a Snidely Whiplash type villan.....too funny.

He will be sorely missed.

[Mike 03]

30. I also loved that movie. That might be my favorite Blake Edwards movie

Saw it when I was eight years old, and it has remained a favorite.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

32. Probably my fave Blake Edwards film..........

RIP Mr. Edwards.

[David Zephyr]

29. Rest in Peace, Blake. You were a model and set standard high.

Very sad news.

[WolverineDG]

33. He also did Operation Petticoat

one of my favorite movies, particularly since Cary Grant got to "payback" Tony Curtis for all the times Curtis imitated him in other movies ("Some Like It Hot").

dg

[ladywnch]

41. I completely forgot that was one his. Great flick. Grant is fabulous also

in Father Goose.....both favs too.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

34. "The Party" is hilarious and underrated; RIP.

[liberal N proud]

36. .

[niyad]

37. requeiscat in pacem, blake

[grasswire]

38. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4661751