Logan Hayes
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards. The film is based on the 1958 novella of the same name by Truman Capote. The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric socialite. The film's exteriors were shot in New York City, with the exception of the fire escape scenes and the alley scene at the end, which were filmed at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The interiors were also mostly filmed at Paramount Studios, except for portions of the scene inside Tiffany & Co. The film's setting plays a significant role in the plot, with Holly Golightly's apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side serving as a hub for various wealthy characters who come in and out of her life. While the film features various locations, the impact of the setting on the story and the prominence of Holly's apartment as a central hub suggest that the narrative is intimately tied to specific spaces.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Novella, film |
| Setting | 1940s New York, specifically the Upper East Side |
| Main character | Holly Golightly |
| Main character's residence | A brownstone apartment |
| Main character's personality | Naive, eccentric socialite |
| Film release date | 1961 |
| Film locations | New York City, Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California |
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What You'll Learn
- The film's opening scene was shot on location in New York City
- Holly Golightly's apartment is a key setting
- The story's plot involves Holly's past and her desire to stay in NYC
- Holly's social life takes her to clubs and restaurants outside of her apartment
- The film's iconic style and Audrey Hepburn's performance received acclaim and awards
The film's opening scene was shot on location in New York City
The film adaptation of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's was released in 1961. The film's opening scene was shot on location in New York City, with Audrey Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly, window shopping outside Tiffany & Co. at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. This scene was watched by hundreds of onlookers, which made Hepburn nervous, and she kept making mistakes. It was only when a crew member nearly got electrocuted behind the camera that Hepburn pulled herself together and finished the scene.
Hepburn's iconic black dress from the opening scene was sold for $807,000 at Christie's Auction House in London in 2006, making it the second most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold. The dress was designed by Hubert de Givenchy and featured a graphic back detail, topped by ropes of Roger Scemama's costume pearls. The film's costume supervisor, Edith Head, altered the final gown to feature a closed skirt, as the original design with a side slit was deemed too revealing.
Hepburn's character in the film has been described as a "naive, eccentric socialite" who meets Paul Varjak (played by George Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building. The film's screenplay, written by George Axelrod, deviates from Capote's novella, with some critics noting that it has an "out-of-Capote beginning" and an "out-of-character end". Despite this, Hepburn's performance received rave reviews, with many considering it to be one of her most memorable and identifiable roles.
The film was shot on location in New York City, as well as at the Studios at Paramount in Hollywood, California. Most of the exteriors were filmed in New York, except for the fire escape scenes and the alley scene at the end of the film. The interiors were mostly filmed on the Paramount Studios lot, except for portions of the scene inside Tiffany & Co.
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Holly Golightly's apartment is a key setting
The apartment is where Holly first meets the narrator, a struggling writer who moves into her building. Their friendship develops over time, with the narrator becoming a frequent visitor to Holly's apartment. The apartment is also a hub of social activity, with various wealthy characters from the Upper East Side coming in and out of Holly's life. This reflects the novella's theme of social mobility and class dynamics in post-war New York.
In the film adaptation, Holly's apartment is brought to life through set design and cinematography. While the interiors were mostly filmed on a studio lot in Hollywood, the exterior shots of the apartment building capture the architectural details of New York City. The apartment's windows play a particularly significant role in the film, with iconic scenes of Holly gazing out over the city or interacting with neighbours from her fire escape.
The setting of Holly's apartment also serves as a contrast to the other locations featured in the story, such as the luxurious Tiffany & Co. store and the sophisticated clubs and restaurants Holly frequents. By showcasing the dichotomy between Holly's home and these aspirational spaces, the apartment setting underscores the themes of desire, materialism, and identity exploration that are central to the narrative.
Overall, Holly Golightly's apartment is a pivotal setting in both the novella and the film adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's. It serves as a backdrop for key character interactions, reflects the social dynamics of the time, and symbolises Holly's journey of self-discovery and her pursuit of a glamorous life in New York City.
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The story's plot involves Holly's past and her desire to stay in NYC
Truman Capote's 1958 novella *Breakfast at Tiffany's* is set in 1940s New York City, specifically the Upper East Side, where Holly Golightly lives in a brownstone apartment. The story's protagonist, a writer, recalls his early days in the city and his remarkable neighbour, Holly Golightly, an 18–19-year-old country girl turned New York café society girl. Holly was born Lulamae Barnes in Texas, a place she was desperate to escape. She has no job and lives by socialising with wealthy men, hoping to marry one of them. Holly is not a prostitute, but an "American geisha" or "escort".
The novella's setting plays a significant role in the plot, with various wealthy characters from the Upper East Side coming in and out of Holly's life. Holly visits Tiffany & Co., the only place that calms her when she's feeling anxious or overwhelmed. The title of the novella is attributed to this scene.
The story's plot involves Holly's past and her desire to stay in New York City. Holly's brother died in the war, and she learns that her husband, Doc Golightly, has come to take her back to rural Texas. Holly insists she must stay in New York and parts ways with Doc. She plans to marry Trawler for his money, but he ends up marrying someone else.
The 1961 film adaptation of *Breakfast at Tiffany's* stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric socialite. The film is a romantic comedy, and, unlike the novella, ends with Holly and the protagonist falling in love and staying together. The film was shot in New York City and at the Studios at Paramount in Hollywood, California.
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Holly's social life takes her to clubs and restaurants outside of her apartment
In Truman Capote's 1958 novella *Breakfast at Tiffany's*, the protagonist Holly Golightly is a young woman who lives in a brownstone apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side. The story is narrated by an unnamed writer who lives in the same building and befriends Holly. The novella is set in the 1940s, during which the Upper East Side experienced a transformation, with brownstones like Holly's apartment becoming "stylish" and affluent.
Holly's social life takes her beyond her apartment to clubs and restaurants, where she socialises with wealthy men. She is described as a "café society girl", and her lifestyle is funded by these men, who give her money and expensive gifts. Holly hopes to marry one of them and is described by Capote as an "American geisha", rather than a prostitute.
In the 1961 film adaptation of the novella, Holly is portrayed by Audrey Hepburn. The film expands on Holly's social life, showing her visiting clubs and restaurants with her friend and sometime roommate, Mag Wildwood, and her love interest, Paul Varjak. In one scene, Holly and Paul go drinking at a club before returning to her apartment. In another, they spend the day together, taking turns doing things they've never done before, including a visit to Tiffany & Co.
In both the novella and the film, Holly's social life is central to the plot, introducing a cast of colourful characters and highlighting her aspirations and ambitions. Her social activities outside her apartment provide a contrast to the intimate scenes set within it, such as when she confides in the narrator about her love of Tiffany's or when she and Paul declare their love for each other.
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The film's iconic style and Audrey Hepburn's performance received acclaim and awards
Breakfast at Tiffany's, the 1961 American romantic comedy film, is based on the 1958 novella of the same name by Truman Capote. The film adaptation stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naive, eccentric socialite. Hepburn's performance in the film received rave reviews, with critics noting how well she portrayed the "unconventional, disorganized, sophisticated, innocent, utterly contradictory [lead] character". Her performance was considered so memorable and identifiable that it was argued to have influenced her later roles.
The film also received acclaim for its music, composed by Henry Mancini, and for Hepburn's style. The theme song, "Moon River", was written by Johnny Mercer especially for Hepburn, as she had no training as a singer. The song went on to win the Academy Award for Best Song. The film's music also won the Academy Award for Best Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. In addition, the film was nominated for three other Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Hepburn.
The film was a commercial success, grossing $14 million on a $2.5 million budget. It has since been digitally restored and released on DVD and Blu-ray, and in 2012, it was preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The iconic black dress worn by Hepburn in the opening scenes was sold for $807,000 at Christie's Auction House in London in 2006, making it one of the most expensive pieces of movie memorabilia ever sold.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the film takes place in various locations in New York City and at the Studios at Paramount in Hollywood, California.
No, the novella takes place in a brownstone apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side and other locations in New York.
The film and novella include scenes that take place both indoors and outdoors.
