Both The Wrap and Nikke Finke have the details, and in their list of the great director’s films, both overlook “The Days of Wine and Roses,” a harrowing, unromantic, and unforgettable tale of the toll of alcoholism on a young, attractive married couple (Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick) and their young daughter. I don’t mention the title to play gotcha with either of them, I mention it because that film is, in my opinion, the greatest testament to Blake Edwards’ gifts as a director, as far away from the comedic tone and slapstick brilliance of the “Pink Panther” series that would soon follow.
Though he’ll always and justifiably be remembered for his work with Peter Sellers and classic film comedies such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “10” and “Victor Victoria,” what he accomplished with “Days of Wine and Roses” — turning what starts out as something resembling a terrific Billy Wilder romantic comedy before moving the story into as dark of a world as one can imagine — has always made it my favorite Blake Edwards’ film. Other than Preston Sturges’ “Sullivan’s Travels,” there’s no other film that tonally moves so smoothly from A to Z as successfully and with the same emotional impact.
And yet, because it’s so unlike what he’s most famous for, the biggest compliment I can pay Edwards is that I frequently forget it’s a Blake Edwards’ film.
Blake Edwards was 88 years old, an Oscar nominee (“Victor Victoria” screenplay), winner of an honorary Oscar in 2004, and survived by his wife of 41 years, Julie Andrews.
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