Blake Edwards is a well-remembered name in Hollywood. He is a famous comedy director who starts writing films since 1947 and directing them since 1955. The releasing of his two comedies, S.O.B and Victor/Victoria is the mark of his oeuvre keeping almost the longest balance on the shaky treadmill of popular cinema.

In the early seventies, Edwards found that his film, a large part of Darling Lili was cut without his permission. He felt betrayed by Hollywood, so he went to England. Later the success of three pink panther films made him feel better. Then he came back to Hollywood to make film, 10. He had written the script in 1971, but the film then could not be sold to any studio. Finally, 10 turns out to be a big success and brought him good luck again. After that, Edwards got four winners in a row, and S.O.B was like a farcical fist in the face of Hollywood, waiting to see if Edwards can make it number five.

Edwards claimed that 10 and S.O.B were both a kind of representation of himself in his fortyish and male menopause. S.O.B was also a reflection of his career crisis. What’s more, in these two films there are the themes of death and recognition of one’s own mortality. In S.O.B, it appeared in the form of madness. However for Edwards, madness represented psychological madness. So S.O.B was inspired by the anger of Hollywood.

From the Edward’s opinion, the good points about comedy is that it can subliminally attack your prejudices, undermine your defense in a very relaxing way. Unlike tragedy, you are prepared for the pain. ‘So the things the author or the director wants to say he can smuggle in, under cover of laughter, much more easily.’

Reference: ‘Blake Edwards: Life After 10’. in American Film. Vol. 6. No. 9, July-August 1981. pp. 24-28.