Blake Edwards passed away on December the 15th from complications relating to pneumonia. Edwards was best known for directing the consistently great (bar a few non-Sellers stinkers) Pink Panther movies (dating from 1963 to 1993) and, outside of the comedy genre, the excellent Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961 - even though I'm a Capote fan, I believe Edwards' film surpasses the book). He directed one of my all time favourite movies, Victor and Victoria (1982). Other brilliant Edwards films include the rudely underrated (and incredibly nasty) S.O.B. (1981), the career reviving 10 (1979), the career killing - but excellent - Darling Lili (1970) and yet another brilliant Sellers vehicle The Party (1968).
Jean Rollin also died this month. I haven't been able to find an exact date or a clear cause of death (other than comments that he's been in poor health for years prior). Rollin was truly one of the Euro horror greats and was still active in film making in the last decade. Sadly, he is too often lumped in with Euro idiot Jess Franco due to their shared love of lesbian vampires. I believe that's where the comparisons should end. Franco has directed (literally) a hundred more movies than Rollin... they are mostly rushed pumped out garbage (admittedly with a few gems thrown in). Rollin seemed to be a far more caring director (please ignore Zombie Lake). He is most well known for Requiem for a Vampire (1971), Fascination (1979) and Grapes of Death (1978) - all excellent films. My personal Rollin favourite is the amazing Lips of Blood (1975), a very intense and beautiful horror film about a man obsessed with tracking down a childhood memory (vampires come into the mix later on of course). In my Rollin list, Lips of Blood is closely followed by the gory The Living Dead Girl (1982). Other classic, but less talked about, Rollin flicks include the depressing and clinical Night of the Hunted (1980) and his totally insane debut The Rape of the Vampire (1969)
Captain Beefheart (born Don Van Vliet) died of complications relating to multiple sclerosis. Beefheart was a good friend and collaborator of another no-longer-with-us-genius, Frank Zappa. His best work with his Magic Band was equal to Zappa's finest. Captain Beefheart's most lauded album is Trout Mask Replica - certainly a unique and exciting listening experience. But I've always loved his first (and somewhat more accessible) effort: Safe as Milk. Highly recommended!R.I.P. Blake, Don and Jean
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