Avery Collins
In the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a socialite who, in one scene, sits on a fire escape and sings Moon River while playing the guitar. Hepburn, who was not known as a singer, performed the song live in the film, contributing to its romantic and yearning tone. The song, written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became a cultural icon, with the sheet music selling over a million copies in its first printing. Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's, including her musical number, solidified her status as a cinema and style icon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Audrey Hepburn play the guitar in Breakfast at Tiffany's? | Yes, Hepburn played the guitar and sang the song "Moon River" in the movie. |
| Movie release date | 1961 |
| Movie plot | A character study of a self-destructively aloof sex worker who runs from the cops to Brazil after being implicated in a criminal drug ring. |
| Hepburn's character | Holly Golightly, a gentleman's paid companion |
| Awards | 5 Academy Award nominations, winning 2 (for Henry Mancini's score and the song "Moon River") |
| Impact | Hepburn's performance turned her into a cinema and style icon, influencing popular culture and fashion. |
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What You'll Learn
Audrey Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly
Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly as a naive, eccentric socialite is widely regarded as one of the most memorable and identifiable performances of her career. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Hepburn, and won two awards for Best Music Score and Best Song for "Moon River," which Hepburn performed herself.
Hepburn's performance of "Moon River" is considered one of the most indelible musical moments from a film of the period. The song was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, and tailored to Hepburn's limited vocal range. It was inspired by songs she performed in the 1957 film Funny Face. Despite the studio's initial displeasure with the song, Hepburn insisted that it remain in the film.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is also notable given the parallels between her life and that of her character, Holly Golightly. Both women remade their lives after traumatic childhoods, endured difficult romantic relationships, and possessed a charming quality that captivated those around them. Hepburn's own experiences may have helped her bring depth and authenticity to the character.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's solidified her star persona and showcased her versatility as an actress. Despite the challenges she faced in portraying an extroverted character, Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly remains one of the most enduring and iconic performances in cinematic history.
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The film's Oscar-winning music
The music for Breakfast at Tiffany's was composed by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The film's theme song, "
"Moon River" was written specifically for Hepburn, and Mancini believed that her recording was the best. He is quoted as saying:
> "Moon River was written for her. No one else has ever understood it so completely. There have been more than a thousand versions of 'Moon River', but hers is unquestionably the greatest."
Hepburn's performance of the song was described as "sweet" and "sparing", and filled with a "romantic yearning for a simpler life".
The song "Moon River" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Mancini won the Academy Award for Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. The song also won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammy Awards. It has been recorded over 500 times by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, and Sarah Vaughan.
In addition to the award-winning "Moon River", the film's score by Mancini has been described as "bright, groovy, and melancholic", and as setting "the viewer away on a pink cloud of romance and wistfulness".
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Hepburn's comfort with music
Hepburn's association with music extended beyond her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's. She had been around music her whole life, not as a singer but as a dancer. This familiarity with music may have contributed to her ease and confidence in singing "Moon River" in the film. Hepburn's performance of the song left a lasting impression, with the sheet music selling over a million copies in its first printing.
The impact of Hepburn's performance extended beyond the film itself. "Moon River" became an Oscar-winning song, with Mancini and Mercer receiving the award for Best Original Song. The song also won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1962 Grammy Awards. Hepburn's interpretation of the song, with her wistful delivery, shed light on her character's true state of mind and added to the overall success of the film.
In conclusion, Hepburn's comfort with music is evident in her performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's, where she sang "Moon River" with guitar accompaniment. Her ease with music likely contributed to the success of her performance, which added depth to her character and left a lasting impact on popular culture. Hepburn's association with music, both in the film and throughout her life, showcases her versatility and talent as an actress and a dancer.
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Henry Mancini's composition of Moon River
"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The song was written specifically for Hepburn to sing in the film.
Mancini and Mercer were hired by Paramount to craft a song for Breakfast at Tiffany's. Mercer adapted his lyrics to Mancini's melody. The song was originally titled "Blue River", but Mercer discovered that another songwriter was using that title. The new title, "Moon River", was inspired by the moon over a river near Mercer's childhood home in Savannah, Georgia.
Mancini composed the song specifically to suit Hepburn's range as a singer. He was inspired to write the song after watching Hepburn sing "How Long Has This Been Going On" in the film Funny Face. It took Mancini about a month and a half to compose the melody of "Moon River".
"Moon River" went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It has been recorded by numerous artists and has become a popular and enduring song. The song's success helped to relaunch Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s due to the rise of rock and roll.
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The impact of Hepburn's style
Audrey Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is often remembered for her iconic fashion choices. Hepburn's style has been described as timeless, authentic, and elegant. Hepburn's wardrobe in the film, including the little black dress she wore as Holly Golightly, has become synonymous with the actress and is often emulated.
Hepburn's fashion choices in Breakfast at Tiffany's contributed to the sanitisation of the film's original character study of a self-destructively aloof sex worker. The power of Hepburn's styling and costuming created images that have far surpassed the memory of the film's original subject matter.
Hepburn's style in Breakfast at Tiffany's and throughout her career has had a lasting impact on fashion. Her iconic looks, both on and off-screen, have become timeless and emblematic of the sartorial shifts of the latter half of the 20th century. Hepburn's influence can be seen in the resurgence of certain trends, such as the hairband, and the continued popularity of the "Hepburn Look," with designers peddling neo-Hepburn styles featuring fitted shifts and ladylike pumps.
Audrey Hepburn's style has left an enduring legacy, with her fashion choices in Breakfast at Tiffany's playing a significant role in shaping her iconic status.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly, plays the guitar and sings "Moon River" in a memorable scene in the film.
"Moon River" was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
Yes, Hepburn sang "Moon River" in the film. Although not known as a singer, her performance added a layer of romantic yearning to the song.
There is no evidence to suggest that Audrey Hepburn played any other instruments besides the guitar.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is considered iconic for several reasons beyond Hepburn's guitar performance. The film captured the glamour of 1960s New York City, influenced popular culture and fashion, and featured an immortal theme song. Hepburn's style and grace in the film also turned her into a cinema and fashion icon.
