MVCC/Plaza Theatre Century of Cinema - Blake Edwards

[Music] I'm not Terry Morris but this is a century of Cinema a presentation we offer at the Historic Plaza theater on the first and third Wednesdays of each month except December this chapter we cover the career of William Blake Crump born in July 1922 in Tulsa Oklahoma oh wait this is a show business series you know him as film director producer screenwriter and actor Blake Edwards his best known films include breakfast at tiffy's Days of Wine and Roses 10 Victor Victoria operation pett coat and the hugely successful Pink Panther series with British actor Peter sers in 1925 Edward's mother remarried and moved with her new husband to Los Angeles Blake's step grandfather was now Gordon Edwards a director of silent films Blake Edwards graduated from Beverly Hills High School in the winter of 1941 and joined the Coast Guard a severe back injury ended his service and he began seeking work as an actor when possible his career as an actor was brief basically due to his not being very Cooperative preferring to give directions not take directions in later interviews he shared that as an actor he worked with John Ford William Wier and Otto preminger where he learned a lot Edwards turned to writing screenplays and radio scripts before turning to producing and directing television and films in 1952 Edward's directorial debut came on the television program fourstar playhouse in the 19 19 5455 season he helped create the Mickey Rooney show hey Mulligan Edwards wrote the scripts for NBC's Richard Diamond private detective series from 1958 through 1961 Edwards created wrote and directed the detective series Peter gun starring Craig Stevens with music by Henry Mancini for a year Edwards produced the series Mr Lucky with Ross Martin for all his detective work Edwards is most remembered for his comedies his entrance in 2004 accepting an honorary Academy Award is an example ladies and gentlemen one of the true Masters Blake Edwards [Music] I can't believe this is happening I can't believe this is happening on the biggest night of his life idiot wait can I help you out here come on buddy here we go put your head down there that's it that's it come on bud you got to go don't touch my oscar I don't want to touch your Oscar I just want to get you to the podium okay come on bud now this is why they wanted us to come in and rehearse yeah but don't touch my OS oh I won't I won't touch it Jesus Christ [Applause] [Music] beautiful hold this that yeah I got to hang on this something they don't let me have these man I know but this okay I'll get it from you in a minute Jesus I don't care anymore [Applause] wow that felt good Edward's first big budget movie as a director came in 1959 with operation pett coat starring Tony Curtis and Carrie Grant this film created the biggest box office success of the decade for Universal Studios and established Edwards as a recognized director next came Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1961 based on the novel by Truman capot music by Mancini and the world's worst ethnic portrayal in history by Mickey Rooney M mly once again I must have broke death if you don't stop with that pornograph right this minute I going to go to Police Department let them all better Edwards later admitted he wished he could recast that role regretting Rooney's attempt to Port portray a Japanese neighbor in the film Tiffany was nominated for five Academy Awards winning two six Grammy nominations winning five and gave us the iconic song Moon River with music by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercy [Music] Moon River wider than a mile I'm crossing you in style [Music] someday old Dream Maker you heart breaker wherever you're going I'm going your way to drifters off to see the Moon River not only W an Oscar the Grammys chose it as record of the year and song of the Year this song has been recorded over 500 times Breakfast at Tiffany's established Blake Edwards as a cult figure with many critics incidentally George paard got his break in this film when Steve McQueen had to pass due to his TV show Wanted Dead or Alive Marilyn Monroe was originally cast as Holo lightly but her acting Coach Lee straber convinced her playing a call girl was not good for her image buddy abon's Country Role in Breakfast at Tiffany caused the creators of The Beverly Hillbillies to seek Him for family patriarch Jed clampet the dark film Days of Wine and Roses came in 1962 starring Jack Lemon and Lee remik portraying the effects of alcoholism on a previously happy marriage this film further boosted Edward's reputation as an important director in 1969 Blake Edwards and Julie Andrews married and while their marriage lasted for 41 years until Edward's Death in 2010 the movie they made together in 1970 brought paramont to the verge of financial collapse Blake Edward's place in Hollywood history and in fact his enduring Legacy had been established after the release of the 1963 film Pink Panther starring Peter cers as the bubbling inept inspector cluso in all there are eight Pink Panther films five created during Edward's Lifetime and three created by the studio with out takes from the original f after Edward's Death In 1980 why you ask because they were so profitable their return of the Pink Panther released in 1975 only cost 2.5 million and grossed over a hundred million The Pink Panther Strikes Again from 1976 did even better a decade after Edwards disastrous film darling Lily and following three successful Pink Panther film releases Edwards wrote produced and directed Dudley Moore and Bo Derek in one of 1979's biggest box office hits 10 [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Edwards wrote and directed Victor Victoria released in 1982 this musical comedy is a remake of a 1933 German film Victor Victoria stars Julie Andrews co-starring James Garner Robert Preston lesie Anne Warren and Alex Caris the film was nominated for seven Academy a Awards winning one for Henry Mancini with best original [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] score Jazz hot [Applause] [Music] come [Applause] [Music] bra watch this [Music] [Applause] [Music] a guy what is your favorite Blake Edwards film is it the iconic Breakfast at Tiffany's the outrageous original Pink Panther the trend setting 10 that launched Dudley Moore and made Bood Derek famous are Victor Victoria a film and subject that resonates today 40 years after its release be sure to visit the gorgeously restored Plaza theater and our 38t wide movie screen 4K laser projection and a worldclass surround sound system visit my Plaza theater.com for showtimes and events the Historic Plaza theater is located in beautiful downtown Miamisburg with unlimited free parking shops to browse and fabulous nearby dining options hope to see you at the plaza join us back here next time [Music]