While best known for his "Pink Panther" comedies starring Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, Blake Edwards has also written and directed such hit films as "10" (1979) and "Victor/Victoria" (1982) and created the popular TV series "Peter Gunn" (NBC, 1958-60; ABC, 1960-61). Much of his screen work has been in collaboration with his wife (since 1969) Julie Andrews.
The grandson of silent film director J. Gordon Edwards, Blake Edwards began his career as an actor, first appearing in "Two Gentlemen From West Point" (1942) and playing a supporting role in William Wyler's Oscar-winning "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946). He turned to screenwriting in 1948 with "Panhandle", providing a role for himself onscreen as well. By the 50s, Edwards was concentrating on writing. Perhaps his most commercially successful screenplay was that for "My Sister Eileen" (1955), the same year Edwards made his directorial debut with "Bring Your Smile Along", a thin musical romance in which Constance Towers is a schoolteacher and would-be songwriter who finds love in the big city. Edwards had written the screenplay for that film, although he did not fill that task on three of his early directorial successes: the Cary Grant classic, "Operation Petticoat" (1959); the exceptional "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961): and the more serious "The Days of Wine and Roses" (1963). Though primarily associated with comedies, Edwards has also been responsible for some fine thrillers, including the taut, strikingly photographed "Experiment in Terror" (1962).
In 1964, Edwards co-wrote and directed "The Pink Panther", the first of his many Inspector Clouseau comedies starring Peter Sellers and featuring an infectious theme by Henry Mancini. A sequel, "A Shot in the Dark" (also 1964) followed quickly, but it would be eleven years before Edwards and Sellars reteamed for another go at Clouseau. IN the meantime, Edwards' output included the all-star comedy "The Great Race" (1965) and "The Party" (1968), which featured Sellers as an Indian who is accidentally invited to a Hollywood fete--a film which has found a new cult audience in the 90s.
Continual disputes with the Hollywood establishment led Edwards to spend five years in Europe in the 70s, and his critical reputation has since fluctuated. He first directed wife Julie Andrews in "Darling Lili" (1970). Critically dismissed upon its release, this espionage spoof has gained admirers in the last 20 years, partly due to a "director's cut" that Edwards prepared in 1990. The duo collaborated again on an other spy/romance "The Tamarind Seed" (1974) before Edwards turned his attention to the "Pink Panther" sequels. Teaming with Tony Adams (who has risen form production manager to producer), Edwards helmed with varying results "The Return of the Pink Panther" (1975), "The Panther Strikes Again" (1976), "Revenge of the Pink Panther" (1978) and "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982).
In 1979, Edwards returned triumphantly to the Hollywood fold after the stunning box office and critical success of "10", a film about middle-aged angst which starred Andrews, Dudley Moore and Bo Derek. Edwards followed this with the biting satire of Hollywood, "S.O.B." (1981), most notable for Andrews first topless scene which finally laid to rest her saccharine screen image, and "Victor/Victoria" (1982), based on a 1933 German film about a woman pretending to be a man performing in drag. The film was an artistic triumph for Edwards and Andrews, earning eight Oscar nominations.
Most of Edwards output in the late 80s and 90s seemed to emanate from his own psyche and ran the risk of being labeled self-obsessed. "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983) was a weak remake of the 1977 Francois Truffaut film and "That's Life!" (1986) focused on a man (Jack Lemmon) and his fear of turning 60 while his wife (Andrews) worries whether or not she has cancer. It was perhaps Edwards most personal film, filmed at his and Andrews' Malibu home, with much of the dialogue improvised. "That's Life!" met with a mixed critical reception and indifference from audiences. "Switch" (1991), in which a macho man awakes as a woman (Ellen Barkin) was resoundingly panned by critics. Edwards' attempted to resurrect his most successful franchise with "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993) which had Roberto Benigni stepping in as Clouseau's son. The reviews unfavorably compared this effort with the originals and it sank at the box office.
Edwards had written and directed for radio, including "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (NBC, 1949) which was revived for TV on ABC from 1950-52. In the late 50s and early 60s, Edwards kept busy on the small screen as well. He produced the syndicated series "City Detective" (1953), created, directed and produced "Peter Gunn" and directed "The Dick Powell Show" (NBC, 1961-63). He also directed and produced the TV-movie "The Monk" (ABC, 1969). Most of his subsequent small screen efforts have been projects designed to showcase his wife, including "Julie!" (ABC, 1972), a documentary on her career, "Julie and Dick in Convent Garden" (ABC, 1974), which reteamed Andrews with her "Mary Poppins" co-star Dick Van Dyke, "Julie-My Favorite Things" (ABC, 1975), and even Andrews' ill-fated sitcom "Julie" (ABC, 1992).
In 1995, Edwards fulfilled a decade-long dream of writing and directing a stage musical adaptation of "Victor/Victoria" for Andrews. After a bumpy start in Chicago, the show arrived on Broadway with a score by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse (supplemented with songs composed by Frank Wildhorn). Critics were reserved in their judgment on the show's overall quality, however, Andrews received personal raves. Many reviews faulted Edwards direction and musical book. The show went on to become a box office success (due in no small part to Andrews' presence). A minor furor arose over the 1996 Tony Award nominations as only Andrews was cited for Best Actress in a Musical. She chose to refuse the nomination which caused a small brouhaha on Broadway.
Edwards' son Geoffrey is a screenwriter and daughter Jennifer is an actress.