Being thrown out of this place is significantly better than being thrown out of a leper colony.
December 16, 2010 12:17 PM Subscribe
Director Blake Edwards, Dies at 88. A prolific writer and director, honorary Oscar recipient, and husband to Julie Andrews, Edwards died of complications from Pnuemonia. He was the director of such classics as Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Victor/Victoria and, of course, the Pink Panther film series. Does your dog bite?
He made me laugh long and hard across the decades. We don't get many like him, and he will be missed.
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posted by hippybear at 12:19 PM on December 16, 2010
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posted by hippybear at 12:19 PM on December 16, 2010
He directed a movie a year for 38 years. Jesus.
And that was with chronic fatigue syndrome. Jesus Christ.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:21 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
And that was with chronic fatigue syndrome. Jesus Christ.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:21 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
One of my favs from him is S.O.B.
posted by Old'n'Busted at 12:23 PM on December 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by Old'n'Busted at 12:23 PM on December 16, 2010 [6 favorites]
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posted by HumanComplex at 12:24 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by HumanComplex at 12:24 PM on December 16, 2010
Does your dog bite? and No no, Nana! are two family favorites. Oh and the one where Clouseau has a gauntlet with a morningstar attached to it.
posted by ao4047 at 12:26 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by ao4047 at 12:26 PM on December 16, 2010
This really moved me:
A lifelong depressive, Mr. Edwards told The New York Times in 2001 that at one point his depression was so bad that he became “seriously suicidal.” After deciding that shooting himself would be too messy and drowning too uncertain, he decided to slit his wrists on the beach at Malibu while looking at the ocean. But while he was holding a two-sided razor, his Great Dane started licking his ear, and his retriever, eager for a game of fetch, dropped a ball in his lap. Attempting to get the dog to go away, Mr. Edwards threw the ball, dropped the razor and dislocated his shoulder. “So I think to myself,” he said, “this just isn’t a day to commit suicide.” Trying to retrieve the razor, he stepped on it and ended up in the emergency room.
There's something about that story that's so perfect, and so Blake Edwards as well.
posted by blucevalo at 12:31 PM on December 16, 2010 [20 favorites]
A lifelong depressive, Mr. Edwards told The New York Times in 2001 that at one point his depression was so bad that he became “seriously suicidal.” After deciding that shooting himself would be too messy and drowning too uncertain, he decided to slit his wrists on the beach at Malibu while looking at the ocean. But while he was holding a two-sided razor, his Great Dane started licking his ear, and his retriever, eager for a game of fetch, dropped a ball in his lap. Attempting to get the dog to go away, Mr. Edwards threw the ball, dropped the razor and dislocated his shoulder. “So I think to myself,” he said, “this just isn’t a day to commit suicide.” Trying to retrieve the razor, he stepped on it and ended up in the emergency room.
There's something about that story that's so perfect, and so Blake Edwards as well.
posted by blucevalo at 12:31 PM on December 16, 2010 [20 favorites]
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posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:34 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:34 PM on December 16, 2010
So many of his movies hit me in just the right place. Breakfast at Tiffany's has long been a favourite of mine. And of course, watching the Pink Panther movies with my 10 year old is just as much a joy for him as it is for me.
Here's to you, Mr. Edwards.
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posted by ashbury at 12:36 PM on December 16, 2010
Here's to you, Mr. Edwards.
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posted by ashbury at 12:36 PM on December 16, 2010
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posted by brundlefly at 12:38 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by brundlefly at 12:38 PM on December 16, 2010
I watched The Pink Panther Strikes Again on a plane ride home from some vacation or other when I was 10 and laughed so hard that my parents had to try and quiet me down. I think that was the first time I discovered that you could laugh so hard you cried. I don't know that I've seen the movie more than once since then, but the memory of watching that movie on that plane ride made me realize "Man, comedy is something I'd like to be involved in."
So, yeah, Edwards, you were all right by me. Thank you for making me laugh so hard my sides hurt.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:45 PM on December 16, 2010 [5 favorites]
So, yeah, Edwards, you were all right by me. Thank you for making me laugh so hard my sides hurt.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:45 PM on December 16, 2010 [5 favorites]
Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.
posted by a non e mouse at 12:45 PM on December 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.
posted by a non e mouse at 12:45 PM on December 16, 2010 [3 favorites]
Is it horrible that my first thought is that he'd be reunited with John Ritter's glow in the dark wang in the afterlife?
posted by inturnaround at 12:48 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by inturnaround at 12:48 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
[Spills a handfull of birdseed pellets on the floor out of respect.]
Birdy num-num.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:49 PM on December 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
Birdy num-num.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:49 PM on December 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
I'll try not to spend the whole thread linking these things, but this scene from Pink Panther Strikes Again still makes me weep helplessly with laughter.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:51 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:51 PM on December 16, 2010
I loved S.O.B. too. Blake had an opportunity to humorously expose how Hollywood does business, and July Andrews got to blow away her G-rated typecasting by baring her breasts.
posted by eye of newt at 12:53 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by eye of newt at 12:53 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Astro, I completely forgot he directed The Party! Another movie that has been in my changing top 10 for years. I quote lines from it form time to time - sad how many people have no clue about what I'm going on about; sadder still that when I explain what movie it came from, they've never heard of it.
"Nothing to lose..."
posted by ashbury at 12:55 PM on December 16, 2010
"Nothing to lose..."
posted by ashbury at 12:55 PM on December 16, 2010
"That is a priceless Steinway!"
"Not any more."
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 12:57 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Not any more."
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 12:57 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I watch Victor/Victoria when I need to cheer up, I watch The Pink Pather when I want to revel in the clothing porn of Claudia Cardinale and Capucine's YSL outfits, I watch S.O.B. when I want one of the meanest, funniest movies about Hollywood. Rest in peace sir.
posted by Ruby Stevens at 12:58 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by Ruby Stevens at 12:58 PM on December 16, 2010
CNN's obit featured this telling quote from Edwards himself about Peter Sellers:
"Peter Sellers became a monster," Edwards once said. "He just got bored with the part (Inspector Clouseau) and became angry, sullen and unprofessional. He wouldn't show up for work and he began looking for anyone and everyone to blame, never for a moment stopping to see whether or not he should blame himself for his own madness, his own craziness."
(It also tells the story about his remarks about Julie Andrews' nether parts a little differently, but to the same general effect.)
posted by briank at 1:10 PM on December 16, 2010
"Peter Sellers became a monster," Edwards once said. "He just got bored with the part (Inspector Clouseau) and became angry, sullen and unprofessional. He wouldn't show up for work and he began looking for anyone and everyone to blame, never for a moment stopping to see whether or not he should blame himself for his own madness, his own craziness."
(It also tells the story about his remarks about Julie Andrews' nether parts a little differently, but to the same general effect.)
posted by briank at 1:10 PM on December 16, 2010
"According to a joint interview the couple gave Playboy in 1982, Mr. Edwards, who had never met Ms. Andrews, wowed a party crowd that was speculating on the reason for her phenomenal success. “I can tell you exactly what it is,” he said. “She has lilacs for pubic hair.” Ms. Andrews sent Mr. Edwards a lilac bush shortly after they started dating, and their marriage lasted 41 years."
Now that's a pick-up line.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 1:16 PM on December 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Now that's a pick-up line.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 1:16 PM on December 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wow; he was from Oklahoma, born in Tulsa, of all places. I had always assumed he was British for some reason.
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posted by Curious Artificer at 1:18 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
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posted by Curious Artificer at 1:18 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
His remake of Truffaut's The Man Who Loved Women stunk.
posted by the cuban at 1:41 PM on December 16, 2010
Besides being an excellent judge of comedy he had some film chops as well. The opening scene of "A Shot in the Dark" is one of the best (and has to be one of the longest) single shots in film.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 1:42 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by Hardcore Poser at 1:42 PM on December 16, 2010
You bitches.
According to Andrews' brilliant commentary, Edwards did Preston's performance in a single long take, let him ad lib, and kept the cameras rolling through Preston's own laughter and flubs. The result is one of those rare and beautiful compassionate moments in cinema where we're both laughing at and with the performance.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 1:48 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
According to Andrews' brilliant commentary, Edwards did Preston's performance in a single long take, let him ad lib, and kept the cameras rolling through Preston's own laughter and flubs. The result is one of those rare and beautiful compassionate moments in cinema where we're both laughing at and with the performance.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 1:48 PM on December 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
The opening scene of "A Shot in the Dark" is one of the best (and has to be one of the longest) single shots in film.
It's not that long a shot... the bit with the stairs and stuff (the single shot) is only about a minute or so... Contrast that with the opening of Touch Of Evil or The Player, both of which have tracking shots which last several minutes in a single take.
/derail
posted by hippybear at 2:00 PM on December 16, 2010
It's not that long a shot... the bit with the stairs and stuff (the single shot) is only about a minute or so... Contrast that with the opening of Touch Of Evil or The Player, both of which have tracking shots which last several minutes in a single take.
/derail
posted by hippybear at 2:00 PM on December 16, 2010
His remake of Truffaut's The Man Who Loved Women stunk.
posted by the cuban at 1:41 PM on December 16 [+] [!]
Can you just.... I mean, is that really.... Can you maybe just....
Oh, fuck it already. You know what? Just go fucking play in another thread.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:31 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by the cuban at 1:41 PM on December 16 [+] [!]
Can you just.... I mean, is that really.... Can you maybe just....
Oh, fuck it already. You know what? Just go fucking play in another thread.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:31 PM on December 16, 2010
It's hard for me to measure how much influence Blake Edwards has made on my life, but because of the lessons learned from The Pink Panther Strikes Again, I still keep a Shinai in my closet in case Cato tries some kind of sneak-attack.
Yes, a three and a half decade old movie still dictates the kinds of toys I keep on hand.
I'd say he's had a bit of influence.
posted by quin at 2:58 PM on December 16, 2010
Yes, a three and a half decade old movie still dictates the kinds of toys I keep on hand.
I'd say he's had a bit of influence.
posted by quin at 2:58 PM on December 16, 2010
When I was young, I refused to watch 10, a stupid bikini movie, as promoted by the contemporary media.
I caught it on television years later by accident. It was a devious inversion of the genre.
posted by ovvl at 6:54 PM on December 16, 2010
I caught it on television years later by accident. It was a devious inversion of the genre.
posted by ovvl at 6:54 PM on December 16, 2010
Push the button, Max!
. So many lines from his movies are catch phrases with my friends and family. The movies that he made with Sellers were some of the few comedies that could make me laugh 'till I hurt. I don't know how many times "Not any more" has been said in my family. Great stuff.
posted by octothorpe at 7:05 PM on December 16, 2010
. So many lines from his movies are catch phrases with my friends and family. The movies that he made with Sellers were some of the few comedies that could make me laugh 'till I hurt. I don't know how many times "Not any more" has been said in my family. Great stuff.
posted by octothorpe at 7:05 PM on December 16, 2010
To the end of the Oscar montage you go, sir!
Godspeed, and thanks for the laughs. Say hi to Peter for us.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:12 PM on December 16, 2010
Godspeed, and thanks for the laughs. Say hi to Peter for us.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:12 PM on December 16, 2010
Blake was an artistic genius. He also got Julie Andrews "to show her boobies" in S.O.B.
posted by ovvl at 7:40 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by ovvl at 7:40 PM on December 16, 2010
RIP Mr Edwards.
As a little kid, I was always tickled by Clouseau's and Cato's relationship and special arrangement. I was jealous that he had a live-in servant would always try to kill him.
posted by nikitabot at 10:44 PM on December 16, 2010
As a little kid, I was always tickled by Clouseau's and Cato's relationship and special arrangement. I was jealous that he had a live-in servant would always try to kill him.
posted by nikitabot at 10:44 PM on December 16, 2010
Ah, The Party. Remember when Jim Carrey quoted that line at the Oscars, and was greeted with near silence? Might be the height of Sellers' comedic performance, at least for me....
posted by ergomatic at 10:53 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by ergomatic at 10:53 PM on December 16, 2010
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posted by captainsohler at 11:34 PM on December 16, 2010
posted by captainsohler at 11:34 PM on December 16, 2010
Godspeed. Watching the Pink Panther movies made for some of my funniest childhood memories.
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posted by bardophile at 1:05 AM on December 17, 2010
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posted by bardophile at 1:05 AM on December 17, 2010
I, too, watch Victor/Victoria when I need to cheer up. I had no idea about the Shady Dame of Seville! It's one of my favorite parts.
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posted by winna at 7:35 PM on December 17, 2010
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posted by winna at 7:35 PM on December 17, 2010
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posted by Joey Michaels at 12:18 PM on December 16, 2010