Logan Hayes
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and based on the 1958 novella by Truman Capote. The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric, and stylish socialite. Holly's character has been described as having ambiguities, flaws, and layers, making her a much more interesting protagonist than the typical party girl. Hepburn's performance received rave reviews, with many considering it to be one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. In the film, Holly is a smoker, and her cigarette holder is a notable trademark of the character.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking | Yes, Holly smokes in the movie. She uses a long cigarette holder, which is played as part of her "wild" girl character. |
| Smoking as a prop | Yes, a smoker was used by a beekeeper to create smoke. There were also cigarette cases on Paul's desk. |
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What You'll Learn
Holly Golightly's character analysis
Holly Golightly is a complex and fascinating character in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, based on the 1958 novella of the same name by Truman Capote. Portrayed by Audrey Hepburn, Holly is an eccentric, glamorous, and charming socialite with a mysterious past. She is a confident, optimistic, and extroverted young woman trying to survive and find herself in New York City.
One of the most striking aspects of Holly's character is her desire for freedom and independence. She is a self-sufficient woman who sustains herself by dating rich men, but she refuses to be defined or tamed by others. Holly seeks to be valued but unoppressed, much like the jewellery on display at Tiffany's, which is valued but owned by no one. She is a "wild thing", terrified of being caged yet wary of being alone. This duality also manifests in her personality, which blends childlike naivety with sophisticated sensuality.
Holly's past is hinted at but never fully revealed in the film. She is a hillbilly child bride who leaves her first husband, Doc Golightly, when he tries to tame her. She moves to New York to escape the constraints of her past and embarks on a restless life of wandering, constantly searching for happiness and freedom. She associates with a diverse range of people, including a mobster named Sally Tomato, whom she visits in prison.
Despite her glamorous lifestyle and confident exterior, Holly is a sad, lost, and lonely person. She hides her emptiness behind lavish parties and dark sunglasses. Her inherent purpose is unclear, aside from her love of novel experiences. She is dedicated to her pursuits, whether it's hosting fabulous parties or reinventing herself as a mature, feminine socialite.
Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is considered iconic and memorable, influencing her later roles. Holly's character broke free from the female stereotypes of the time, presenting a modern and independent young woman who captivated audiences and challenged societal norms.
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Smoking and drinking in the movie
The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's is a romantic comedy based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name. The movie stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a socialite and "party girl" who falls in love with a writer, Paul Varjak (played by George Peppard), who moves into her apartment building.
The film portrays Holly as a glamorous, stylish, and eccentric character with a trademark cigarette holder, reflecting the frequent smoking and drinking depicted throughout the movie. Holly's smoking is referenced in one of her quotes: "I did [smoke marijuana] for a while, but it only makes me giggle."
In addition to smoking, the consumption of alcohol is a primary activity in the film, with characters drinking frequently. This reflects the portrayal of New York's "jet set," showcasing the social lives of the wealthy and glamorous.
The film also addresses more complex themes, including Holly's involvement in organised crime and her past as a sex worker fleeing an underage marriage. These darker aspects of the story are often overlooked or bleached in favour of the film's romantic and comedic elements.
Overall, the smoking and drinking in Breakfast at Tiffany's contribute to the portrayal of Holly Golightly as a glamorous and eccentric character, while also reflecting the social context and themes of the film.
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Holly's relationship with Paul
Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and Paul Varjak (George Peppard) meet in the film when Paul, a struggling writer, moves into Holly's apartment building. Paul is a "kept man", and Holly is a naïve, eccentric socialite.
Holly is initially unmoved by Paul, but their relationship develops over the course of the film. They go to a bar together, where a drunken Holly reveals that she has to marry for money to support her brother, Fred. Holly and Paul kiss and it is implied that they spend the night together. The next day, Paul ends his relationship with his mistress, a wealthy older woman nicknamed "2E", realising that he loves Holly. However, Holly plans to marry José, which angers Paul.
After Holly's brother Fred dies, she trashes her apartment in grief. Paul tries to calm her down, but her behaviour concerns José, who breaks up with her via a letter. Holly impulsively throws her cat out of the cab in the rain and Paul confronts her for being afraid to accept his love. Holly runs after him, and they share a kiss.
The film has been interpreted as a story of quirky and flawed characters finding a transformative love. Holly and Paul's relationship has been described as "character-driven tension", with their love story relying on their choices and finding something real rather than selling out for something fake.
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Holly's past and occupation
Holly Golightly (Hepburn), a naïve, eccentric socialite, meets Paul Varjak (Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building. Holly is an escapee of underage marriage, a sex worker, and an accomplice to a drug ring. She is also a smoker, as indicated by her casual cigarette at the police precinct after her arrest.
In the 1958 novella by Truman Capote, which the film adapts, Holly is introduced as the remarkable neighbour of a contemporary writer in 1940s New York. The writer recalls his early days in the city and his acquaintance with Holly, who is born Lulamae Barnes and goes by the name of Holly Golightly after her marriage to Doc Golightly. Holly is a restless soul, constantly searching for happiness and freedom, and her past is revealed through the narrator, who learns of her troubled upbringing and previous life in Texas.
The film deviates from the novella in several ways, including the omission of Holly's marriage to Doc Golightly and the addition of a love affair between Holly and the narrator. While the film suggests that Holly is a sex worker, it is more subtle in its implications than the book. The film also received criticism for bleaching the darker themes of Capote's original story, including Holly's involvement in organised crime and her reaction to her brother's death in the war.
Despite the differences between the film and the novella, Holly remains an iconic character, known for her glamour, survival instincts, and tenacity.
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Holly's arrest
Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, is a naïve and eccentric socialite who meets Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building.
Holly is arrested and accused of being a "key figure" in an "international smuggling racket" linked to Sally Tomato, who is alleged to run a drug ring. The newspapers place Holly's arrest at her "luxurious apartment", but it actually happens in the narrator's bathroom while he is soaking in the tub after falling from a horse, and Holly is taking care of him. Their neighbour, Madame Sapphia Spanella, brings the police to them.
While the movie does not explicitly show Holly smoking, there is a reference to her smoking a cigarette at the police precinct after her arrest, with one source stating that "when she’s arrested, we trust that Holly doesn’t know anything, resorting to her high-end French and the casual cigarette". Additionally, in the LitCharts character analysis of Holly Golightly, it is mentioned that she smoked marijuana for a while but stopped because it only made her giggle.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Holly smokes in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. She is often seen with a long cigarette holder, which is played as part of her "wild" girl character.
In one scene, O.J. Berman offers Holly a KENT cigarette.
Breakfast at Tiffany's features a lot of smoking. In one scene, there is a party where everyone is drinking heavily and smoking.
There is a lot of alcohol consumption in the film. Characters are shown drinking at a party, and Holly plays one long scene completely inebriated.
A smoker used by a beekeeper was brought in to create the smoke for the film.
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