By Erik Gruenwedel

LAS VEGAS — With almost 50 films to his credit, including the “Pink Panther” movies, “Victor/ Victoria,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the Bo Derek starrer “10,” director Blake Edwards received the Lifetime Achievement Award here Wednesday at VSDA’s Home Entertainment 2004 Awards.

The 80-year-old Edwards, who, due to failing knees, walked onstage with two canes, appeared embarrassed by the attention and joked about old age. “So many of my friends are here,” Edwards said. “They look so much younger in the dark.”

Edwards deadpanned that he didn’t know much about the VSDA, but “I do now because I have notes.”

He joked that the success of DVD sell-through of his movies has resulted in steady royalties and residuals, spurring his renewed appreciation of the VSDA.

Gen X director Kevin Smith, honored with the VSDA’s inaugural DVD Visionary Award, quipped that his accolade ranked him among an elite crowd.

“I’m in a select group of people that includes Shannon Tweed,” Smith said.

He said DVD gave him a larger audience and continued career, which he admitted took him by surprise.

During commentary for the video release of “Chasing Amy,” Smith expressed initial disdain for the DVD format.

“I opened the commentary with ‘Fuck DVD,’ ” he said. “I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Jim Caviezel, honored as man of the year, played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” During a humorous recollection of a meeting with the pope, Caviezel said he told the pope that for a number of reasons, including the fact that “his mom thinks he’s God,” Jesus must have been Italian. The pope, Caviezel said, shot back, “I thought he was Polish.”

Rising Female Star of the Year winner Rebecca Romijn-Stamos thanked video for affording her the opportunity to see the film “Sixteen Candles” more than 80 times.

The award’s male recipient, Jason Ritter, who expressed excitement at being honored for the first time in his career, said he would try to “live up to (the accolade).”