Filmmaker Blake Edwards will be honored with an honorary doctoral degree for his work and contribution to film on Friday night at Gammage Auditorium.
ASU will present Edwards with the degree at "A Musical Tribute to Blake Edwards," a concert starting at 7:30 p.m.
"Edwards is a major figure in radio, TV and film, as a writer, producer and a director. He is also a painter and a sculptor," said Peter Lehman, director of ASU's proposed Center for Film and Media Research. "There is no one quite like him in his generation."
"It was a natural thing for me to nominate Edwards for an honorary degree and invite him to come to ASU," said Lehman. "He was very responsive."
Edwards was first to explore gender and sexual orientation issues in his movie "Victor/Victoria." He also reintroduced slapstick humor in "The Pink Panther."
He has made more than 50 movies, including "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Pink Panther" and the Oscar-winning "Victor/Victoria."
As part of the celebration, the ASU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Timothy Russell, will feature music from Edwards' movies.
"We are going to present a retrospective collage of Edwards' film scores," said Russell.
Monica Mancini, a soprano, will be a special guest performer at the concert.
"Having Monica Mancini available and willing to come is a special treat," said Russell.
Mancini is the daughter of Henry Mancini, who composed most of the music for Edwards' movies. Mancini's work includes the films "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Victor/Victoria."
Bringing Edwards to campus is a collaboration of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts. These colleges recently started a bachelor of arts degree in film studies.
Edwards is expected to teach a course in advanced filmmaking as soon as the curriculum for the new film major kicks in.
"This concert will be a truly great example of what is wonderful about this university, which is going across departmental lines," said Russell.
Reach the reporter at ljiljana.ciric@asu.edu.
