Blake Edwards

Interviews

Gabriella Oldham

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781496815668
• eBook ISBN: 9781496815675
• Topic: Medios de comunicación y artes escénicas
• Subtopic: Películas y vídeos

Blake Edwards (1922-2010) was a multitalented, versatile director constantly exploring who he was, not only in filmmaking but also in life. Often typecast as a comedy director, he also created westerns, thrillers, musicals, and heart-wrenching dramas. His strength as a filmmaker came from his ability to be a triple threat—writer, director, and producer—allowing him full control of his films, especially when the studio system failed him. Blake Edwards: Interviews highlights how the filmmaker created the hugely successful Pink Panther franchise; his long partnership with award-winning composer Henry Mancini; his principles of comedy as influenced by the comic greats of film history, especially silent comedies; his decades-long marriage and film collaborations with Julie Andrews; and his unique philosophy of life. Continually testing his abilities as a writer, which he considered himself to be above all other professions, Edwards did not hesitate to strip comedy from films that clearly and purposefully explored other genres with sharp, dramatic insight. He created thrilling suspense ( Experiment in Terror ); rugged westerns ( Wild Rovers ); riveting drama ( Days of Wine and Roses ); and bittersweet romance ( Breakfast at Tiffany's ). He also created musicals, namely Darling Lili and Victor/Victoria, showcasing the talents of Andrews. In fact, many of these films have been considered some of Edwards's finest in his appreciable career. Reinventing himself throughout his sixty-year career, Edwards found new outlets of expression that fueled his creativity to the very end. This long-overdue collection of published interviews explores the ups and downs—and ups again—of a sometimes flawed but always gifted and often surprising filmmaker.

Filmography

These are credits as film director. Edwards has numerous credits as writer and producer only in television, film, radio, and theater. See Chronology for additional credits.

BRING YOUR SMILE ALONG (1955)

Columbia Pictures

Producer: Jonie Taps

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Blake Edwards, Richard Quine

Cinematography: Charles Lawton Jr.

Editing: Al Clark

Music: Paul Mason Howard

Cast: Frankie Laine (Jerry Dennis), Keefe Brasselle (Martin “Marty” Adams), Constance Towers (Nancy Willows), Lucy Marlow (Marge Stevenson), William Leslie (David Parker), Mario Siletti (Ricardo), Ruth Warren (Mrs. Klein, Landlady), Jack Albertson (Mr. Jenson), Bobby Clark (Waldo), Murray Leonard (Dave), Ida Smeraldo (Mama)

Color, 83 minutes

HE LAUGHED LAST (1956)

Columbia Pictures

Producer: Jonie Taps

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Blake Edwards, Richard Quine

Cinematography: Henry Freulich

Editing: Jack Ogilvie

Music: Arthur Morton

Cast: Frankie Laine (Gino Lupo), Lucy Marlow (Rosemary “Rosie” Lebeau), Anthony Dexter (Dominic Rodriguez), Richard Long (Jimmy Murphy), Alan Reed (Big Dan Hennessy), Jesse White (Max Lassiter), Florenz Ames (George Eagle), Henry Slate (Ziggy)

Color, 77 minutes

MISTER CORY (1957)

Universal-International

Producer: Robert Arthur

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Blake Edwards, Leo Rosten

Cinematography: Russell Metty

Music: Henry Mancini

Cast: Tony Curtis (Cory), Martha Hyer (Abby), Charles Bickford (Caldwell/Biloxi), Kathryn Grant (Jen)

Color, 92 minutes

THIS HAPPY FEELING (1958)

Universal-International

Producer: Ross Hunter

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Blake Edwards, F. Hugh Herbert

Cinematography: Arthur E. Arling

Music: Frank Skinner

Cast: Debbie Reynolds (Janet Blake), Curd Jürgens (Preston Mitchell), John Saxon (Bill Tremaine), Alexis Smith (Nita Hollaway), Mary Astor (Miss Tremaine), Estelle Winwood (Miss Early), Troy Donahue (Tony Manza), Hayden Rorke (Mister Booth), Gloria Holden (Miss Dover), Alex Gerry (Mister Dover), Joe Flynn (Doctor McCafferty)

Color, 92 minutes

THE PERFECT FURLOUGH (1958)

Universal-International

Producer: Robert Arthur

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Stanley Shapiro

Cinematography: Philip Lathrop

Music: Dámaso Pérez Prado

Cast: Tony Curtis (Cpl. Paul Hodges), Janet Leigh (Lt. Vicki Loren), Keenan Wynn (Harvey Franklin), Linda Cristal (Sandra Roca, the Argentine Bombshell), Elaine Stritch (Liz Baker), Marcel Dalio (Henri Valentin), Les Tremayne (Col. Leland), Jay Novello (Rene Valentin), King Donovan (Maj. Collins), Gordon Jones (“Sylvia,” MP #1), Alvy Moore (Pvt. Marvin Brewer), Lilyan Chauvin (French nurse), Troy Donahue (Sgt. Nickles), Dick Crockettas (Hans, MP #2), Eugene Borden (French doctor)

Color, 93 minutes

OPERATION PETTICOAT (1959)

Universal-International

Producer: Robert Arthur

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Paul King, Joseph B. Stone, Stanley J. Shapiro, Maurice Richlin

Cinematography: Russell Harlan

Editing: Frank Gross, Ted J. Kent

Music: David Rose, Henry Mancini (uncredited)

Cast: Cary Grant (Lieutenant Commander Matthew T. “Matt” Sherman), Tony Curtis (Lieutenant, Junior Grade Nicholas “Nick” Holden), Joan O’Brien (Second Lieutenant Dolores Crandall), Dina Merrill (Second Lieutenant Barbara Duran), Gene Evans (Chief Torpedoman “Mo” Molumphry), Dick (Richard) Sargent (Ensign Stovall), Arthur O’Connell (Chief Motor Machinist’s Mate Sam Tostin), Virginia Gregg (Major Edna Heywood), Robert F. Simon (Captain J. B. Henderson), Robert Gist (Lieutenant Watson), Gavin MacLeod (Yeoman Ernest Hunkle), George Dunn (Prophet of Doom), Dick Crockett (Petty Officer Harmon), Madlyn Rhue (Second Lieutenant Reid), Marion Ross (Second Lieutenant Colfax), Clarence Lung (Sergeant Ramon Gallardo), Frankie Darro (Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd Class Dooley), Tony Pastor Jr. (Fox)

Color, 124 minutes

HIGH TIME (1960)

20th Century Fox

Producer: Charles Brackett

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Frank Waldman, Tom Waldman

Cinematography: Ellsworth Fredericks

Editing: Robert L. Simpson

Music: Henry Mancini

Cast: Bing Crosby (Harvey Howard), Fabian (Gil Sparrow), Tuesday Weld (Joy Elder), Nicole Maurey (Prof. Helene Gauthier), Richard Beymer (Bob Bannerman), Patrick Adiarte (T. J. Padmanagham), Yvonne Craig (Randy “Scoop” Pruitt), Jimmy Boyd (Robert Higgson), Gavin MacLeod (Professor Thayer), Kenneth MacKenna (President Byrne of Pinehurst), Nina Shipman (Laura Howard), Angus Duncan (Harvey Howard Jr.), Carla Borelli (Harvey Jr.’s date), Alvin Childress (Guest Announcer), Douglass Dumbrille (Judge Carter)

Color, 103 minutes

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (1961)

Paramount Pictures

Producer: Martin Jurow, Richard Shepherd

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: George Axelrod (based on Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote)

Cinematography: Franz F. Planer, Philip H. Lathrop (uncredited)

Editing: Howard Smith

Music: Henry Mancini

Cast: Audrey Hepburn (Holly Golightly/Lula Mae Barnes), George Peppard (Paul “Fred” Varjak), Patricia Neal (Mrs. Emily Eustace “2E” Failenson), Buddy Ebsen (Doc Golightly), Martin Balsam (O. J. Berman), Mickey Rooney (I. Y. Yunioshi), Alan Reed (Sally Tomato), José Luis de Vilallonga (José da Silva Pereira), Stanley Adams (Rutherford “Rusty” Trawler), John McGiver (Tiffany’s salesman), Orangey (Cat, trained by Frank Inn), Elvia Allman (Librarian), Mel Blanc (Holly’s over-eager date, uncredited)

Color, 114 minutes

EXPERIMENT IN TERROR (1962)

Columbia Pictures

Producer: Blake Edwards

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Mildred Gordon, Gordon Gordon

Cinematography: Philip H. Lathrop

Editing: Patrick McCormack

Music: Henry Mancini

Cast: Glenn Ford (John “Rip” Ripley), Lee Remick (Kelly Sherwood), Stefanie Powers (Toby Sherwood), Ross Martin (Garland Humphrey “Red” Lynch), Ned Glass (Popcorn), Clifton James (Capt. Moreno), William Bryant (Chuck), Dick Crockett (FBI Agent #1), James Lanphier (Landlord), Clarence Lung (Attorney Yung)

B&W, 123 minutes

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962)

Warner Bros.

Producer: Martin Manulis

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: JP Miller

Cinematography: Philip H. Lathrop

Editing: Patrick McCormack

Music: Henry Mancini

Cast: Jack Lemmon (Joe Clay), Lee Remick (Kirsten Arnesen Clay), Charles Bickford (Ellis Arnesen), Jack Klugman (Jim Hungerford), Alan Hewitt ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chronology
• Filmography
• The Edwardian Look
• All Set
• Blake Edwards: Busted Budgets Are Box Office
• Blake Edwards Talks about Budgets, Real and Exaggerated
• Blake Edwards Interview—In the Lair of the Pink Panther
• Advertisement from Eastman Kodak Company
• S.O.B.: Blake Edwards’s Blast at His Real-Life Blacklisting
• Seminar with Blake Edwards
• S.O.B.: Do They Mean the Movie or Blake Edwards?
• Portrait: Blake Edwards
• Home Movie: Blake Edwards’s Life Is Autobiographical
• Director—Writer—Producer—Husband—Father and Former Actor: Blake Edwards
• Reconcilable Differences
• Blake Edwards Is Up to His Movie Maverick Tricks Again
• Director Blake Edwards Displays a Bronze Touch
• “I Write on What I Know”: Interview with Blake Edwards
• Jimmy Smits and Blake Edwards—Switch’s Real Men
• His Pain, His Gain
• Topping the Topper: Blake Edwards
• The Clouseau Gene
• Blake Edwards: In the Pink
• Interview with Blake Edwards
• An Active Imagination
• Proust Questionnaire: Blake Edwards
• The Art of Blake Edwards at the Pacific Design Center
• Old School
• Resources
• Index