Breakfast At Tiffany's - Paramount Centennial Collection (Mastered in High Definition)

 

 

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Audrey Hepburn had a lot of memorable, glamorous roles as highly individual, sensitive young women.

But her most iconic turn was as Holly Golightly, a frivolous young woman with a highly sensitive core. Hepburn is a ball of shimmering charm here, whether she's setting hats on fire or chasing nameless cats through the rain, and she's able to shine brightly enough to obscure a few flaws (such as Mickey Rooney). The other actors do serviceable jobs, but she's undeniablythe star.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a daily ritual for Holly Golightly (Hepburn), a social butterfly who hosts parties, entertains drunken men for their fifty-dollartips, and dreams of owning a horse farm in Mexico with her brother. When kept-man Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into a neighboring apartment -- courtesy of his rich patroness -- he is instantly enchanted by the ditzy, sweet-natured Holly.

But for all Holly's fun, Paul starts to realize that all is not well with her. She's desperate to marry a spectacularly wealthy man, parties with wild crowds, visits a notorious gangster in jail, and hides that she was an illiterate teen bride to a hick doctor. As Holly's life starts to deteriorate, Paul sets out to show her what her life will be like without real love.

Reportedly Truman Capote wasn't happy with the movie version of "Breakfast At Tiffany's" -- they changed the ending from his short story's, and he didn't like Hepburn as Holly Golightley. But this is one case where the movie's quality is not reflected by what the author thought of it -- taken on its own merits, it's a fine chocolate with a bittersweet center.

Much of the movie is devoted to the friendship (and unspoken attraction) between Holly and Paul, and how it disrupts their comfortable shallow lives. Paul spends the whole movie unravelling the unhappy tale of Holly's life as she starts spinning out of control. Things climax nastily with Holly's already-questionable reputation being sullied, but the finale is an exquisite mix of brutal honesty, true love and a very unglamorous rainstorm.

That said, it's a pretty hilarious movie -- witty dialogue ("... if you like dark, handsome, rich-looking men with passionate natures and too many teeth") and plenty of kooky humour ("TIMBER!" Holly yells as a drunken model keels over, followed by the crowd parting like the Red Sea). And there are plenty of charming, warm'n'fuzzy moments, like the cute day trip through New York.

One thing that will make viewers cringe: Mickey Rooney's caricatured Japanese landlord who objects to Holly's parties. Not. Funny.

Though she was no party girl, Audrey Hepburn is pitch-perfect as Holly -- she can be flaky and adorable ("I'm CRAAAZY about Tiffany's?"), chattery and glamorous, with a cat she refuses to name because they're just a pair of "poor slobs who don't belong to anybody." But she can just as easily flip the switch to show the wounded, almost childlike side.

George Peppard is just as good -- albeit less winsome -- as a writer-turned-kept-man-turned-writer-again, whose protective affection for Holly grows as the movie goes on, but who has to get through her ironclad defenses. And Patricia Neal rounds out the cast nicely as the icy, cynical woman whom Paul gives his non-literary services to.

Hepburn is the flawed diamond at the heart of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and her charm and acting ability elevate this beyond just another adorable romantic comedy.

Because of the fact that I'm only 17 years old, I just got around to watching this movie. I'd always heard about it but I never knew what it was about. And, to be quite honest, I didn't even think about watching it because I thought it was in black and white! (Eh, I didn't know when it was made!)

My dad made me watch it this past weekend and I fell in love with it! Unlike most romantic comedies made today, both main characters are broke. It doesn't follow the mold of: poor/average girl falls for rich guy blah blah blah or the other way around. It was funny (Mickey Rooney's character was HILARIOUS!) and sad (when Holly finds out about Fred) and sappy (the last 20 minutes) all at the same time.

This movie is great for anyone, whether you saw it the first time around or you're a "late viewer" like me.

Film starts with Audrey Hepburn stopping by Tiffany & Co. in the morning at 6am, having her breakfast pretzel and coffee while standing in front of the Tiffany store, looking through the window and staring at the beatiful Tiffany's jewellery. She feels calm, relax, joyfully walking back to her apartment. Story begins with her new neighbor....

This is a truly gorgeous romantic film, a real classic. A film really you can watch many many times without getting bored. Since 1961, I'm sure lots of people agree and have been watching this film again and again and again during this 40 years. Oscar winning music, beautiful theme song 'Moon River' meets with gorgeous romantic story.

"Moon river wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
You dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're going I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbows end
Waiting round the band
My huckleberry friend, moon river

And me..."

Such charming may wonder you ever find a counterpart from nowadays. Overall, buy it own it watch it feel it and re-watch it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Aw, such a fantastic movie
This movie was the reason I love most movie from this time period, and of course, Audrey. What a gem.

Published on April 13 2010 by Cheryl Davenport

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but over-rated
Although this movie was really good, it's a little upsetting to think that (for the most part) this is the movie that Audrey was most remembered for. Read more

Published on July 23 2008 by G. Motychko

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn t think that this movie could live up to the buzz. Thankfully, I was wrong.
"Breakfast at Tiffany s" (1961) is simply a classic, one of those films you just need to watch. I did that tonight. Why didn t I watch it before? Read more

Published on Jan 7 2007 by M. B. Alcat

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely
Great Acting From Everyone. Beautiful song: Moon River! It deserved an oscar!! A real gem!!

Published on Dec 5 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best chick flicks ever
I loved Breakfast at TIffany's. I had read about it from all of the gossip girl books and eventually became curious about the movie. Read more

Published on July 15 2004 by Jen S.

5.0 out of 5 stars my fav movie!
i love this movie so much!
it is a love story but its not sappy it is so fun to watch

it is not an earlier version of pretty woman at all (as another review stated) audrey... Read more

Published on July 4 2004 by Mark Twain

5.0 out of 5 stars i love....
i love audrey hepburn. i also love truman capote. this is a stylist journey and well worth the read or watch.

Published on Jun 30 2004 by busbyyesterday

3.0 out of 5 stars Bizarre concept
I love Audrey Hepburn but I just never understood the appeal of this story. The character Audrey portrays is a hooker, yet she acts like a virgin princess, and we are supposed to... Read more

Published on Jun 28 2004 by M. S. Butch

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fashionable Fairytale
"Seinfield" has ruined me. So many little things pop up in life that remind me of certain episodes and this movie is one of them. Read more

Published on May 20 2004 by Baroness Von Grim

5.0 out of 5 stars My All-Time Favorite Movie.
I have always loved Audrey Hepburn ever since I first learned about her when I was about 9 or 10 years old.I have seen all of her movies,and this by far is her greatest one. Read more

Published on May 19 2004 by Pedro Tejada

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