S.O.B. (1981)

*S.O.B. (1981)* stands as one of Blake Edwards' most audacious and cutting Hollywood satires, plunging into the desperate world of Felix Farmer (Richard Mulligan), a once-successful movie producer facing career ruin after his latest big-budget musical is a catastrophic flop. In a radical, last-ditch effort to salvage his film and his reputation, Felix concocts a wild scheme: re-edit the wholesome, family-friendly production into an explicit, erotic spectacle. The film's most audacious and unforgettable element, as the provided description highlights, involves its squeaky-clean star, Sally Miles (Julie Andrews) – Edwards' real-life wife – famously agreeing to bare all on screen, shattering her carefully cultivated image and sending shockwaves through Tinseltown. This black comedy is essential to any "Best Blake Edwards Movies" list because it represents a deeply personal, cathartic outpouring from the director, who often battled the studio system over his own films. Edwards channeled his frustrations with Hollywood's absurdity, greed, and moral compromises into *S.O.B.*, crafting a biting satire that is both hysterically funny and profoundly cynical. Beyond the sensational casting of Julie Andrews in a role that completely subverted her public persona – a testament to her courage and versatility – the film showcases Edwards' unparalleled skill for sharp dialogue, brilliant ensemble direction, and a unique blend of dark humor with genuine pathos. It's a courageous and uncompromising work that solidified his reputation as a master satirist who wasn't afraid to expose the underbelly of the dream factory.