Ethan Brooks
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, and Mickey Rooney. It is based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Truman Capote. The film follows the story of a young writer who falls in love with an eccentric party girl named Holly Golightly, played by Hepburn. With a budget of $2 million, the film grossed $14 million and received positive reviews, with an average score of 7.5/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly is considered one of her most memorable and iconic roles, and the film's theme song, Moon River, composed by Henry Mancini, further added to its success.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Release Date | 5 October 1961 |
| Runtime | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Director | Blake Edwards |
| Cast | Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, Mickey Rooney, John McGiver |
| Characters | Holly Golightly, Paul Varjack, Doc Golightly, Sally Tomato, Mr. Yunioshi |
| Budget | $2 million |
| Box Office Collection | $14 million |
| Rating | 7.5/10 |
| Review | "It contains some ugly anachronisms, but Blake Edwards is at his funniest in this iconic classic, and Audrey Hepburn absolutely lights up the screen." |
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What You'll Learn
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a commercial success
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name. The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naïve, eccentric café society girl who falls in love with a struggling writer, played by George Peppard.
The film was a commercial success, grossing $14 million on a $2.5 million budget. It received critical acclaim for its music and Hepburn's style and performance, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning two. Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is considered one of her most memorable and challenging roles, as she played an extrovert despite being an introvert in real life. The film also received numerous other accolades, and in 2012, it was preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
The film's success can also be attributed to its memorable soundtrack, composed and conducted by Henry Mancini. The song "Moon River," sung by Hepburn in the film, became the film's signature song and was tailored to her limited vocal range. The film's score was released in its original form in 2013 by Intrada Records, including unreleased compositions not featured in the final film.
Breakfast at Tiffany's also had a successful release on home video formats. The film was first released on VHS in 1989 and on DVD in 2001, with subsequent special edition and remastered releases featuring additional content. The film's enduring popularity has led to it being considered an iconic classic, with Audrey Hepburn's performance and style praised as influential and memorable.
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The film's plot and characters
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards. It 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 who lives in a brownstone apartment on Manhattan's swank East Side. Holly owns a cat with no name, visits Tiffany's jewelry store to get rid of the "mean reds", and frequently misplaces her door key, much to the dismay of her upstairs neighbour, Japanese photographer Mr. Yunioshi (Mickey Rooney). She makes her living by receiving $50 from her gentlemen escorts and $100 for each weekly trip to Sing Sing Prison to visit ex-mobster Sally Tomato (Alan Reed).
One day, Holly meets Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building. Paul is supported by an older woman nicknamed "2E" (Patricia Neal). After one of Holly's wild cocktail parties, Paul meets Doc Golightly (Buddy Ebsen), a gentle Texan whom Holly married when she was only 15 years old. Holly explains that the marriage was annulled, and Paul helps her send Doc away. As the two spend more time together, Paul falls in love with Holly and proposes to her. However, she is determined to marry José (José Luis de Vilallonga), a South American millionaire.
When it is publicly revealed that Holly has been unknowingly carrying narcotics ring information from Sally Tomato to his associates in New York, José abandons her. Heartbroken and furious, Holly kicks her cat out of her taxi into the rain and decides to leave town for Brazil. But Paul lectures her and goes out to find the cat.
The film received critical acclaim for its music and Hepburn's performance and style. Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is considered one of her most memorable and identifiable roles. The film was also a commercial success, grossing $14 million on a $2.5 million budget. However, Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi has been criticised as a racist caricature of a Japanese man.
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Critical reception and reviews
The critical reception of Breakfast at Tiffany's has been mixed, with some reviewers praising the film's charm, cinematography, and Audrey Hepburn's performance, while others have criticised its narrative structure and portrayal of certain characters.
Many critics have highlighted the film's visual appeal and the way it captures the spirit and glamour of 1960s New York. The film's fashion, colours, and tints have been described as "exquisite", with Hepburn's iconic little black dress being particularly noteworthy. The film's score, by Henry Mancini, has also been praised as "evocative, ingenious, [and] tasteful".
Audrey Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly has been a significant point of discussion. Some reviewers have described her as "beautiful", "charming", and "captivating", with one critic noting that her performance gives the film "impact and strength". Hepburn's portrayal of the character has become iconic, despite Truman Capote's initial disagreement with the casting due to her hair colour. However, some critics have argued that the film relies too heavily on Hepburn's performance and that it is not her best work.
The film has also been praised for its unconventional and dynamic entertainment value, with some reviewers finding it surprisingly moving and positively glossed over. The story has been described as an "unbelievable but wholly captivating flight into fancy", with a mix of comedy, romance, and poignancy. However, others have criticised the narrative as scattershot and forgettable, lacking a serious moral view.
One of the most controversial aspects of the film is Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi, which has been widely criticised as a "horrifically racist caricature". This character has overshadowed the film's positive aspects for many reviewers. Additionally, some have criticised the character of Paul Varjak as a "creaky conception" that unintentionally exposes the biases of its time.
Overall, Breakfast at Tiffany's has received a range of reviews, with some considering it a classic romantic comedy and others finding it disappointing. While the film has been commercially successful and visually appealing, it has also faced significant criticism for its narrative and character portrayals.
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The film's music and soundtrack
The music and soundtrack of Breakfast at Tiffany's are almost as iconic as the film itself. The music was composed and conducted by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The score features several unreleased compositions that were not included in the final film. One piece, "Carousel Cue", appears in a deleted scene, while another, "Outtake 1", also features in a deleted scene.
The most famous song from the film is undoubtedly "Moon River", which was written for Audrey Hepburn, who played the lead role of Holly Golightly. Mancini believed that Hepburn's interpretation of the song was the best, 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." The song is introduced in the film by a plaintive harmonica, which is then repeated by strings, hummed, and finally sung by a chorus, with the harmonica returning at the end.
Hepburn herself was also a fan of Mancini's work, writing to him after watching the film: "Your music has lifted us all up and sent us soaring. Everything we cannot say with words or show with action you have expressed for us. You have done this with so much imagination, fun and beauty. You are the hippest of cats - and the most sensitive of composers!"
The partnership between Mancini and director Blake Edwards was a fruitful one, and they went on to collaborate on numerous other films together. The complete score for Breakfast at Tiffany's was released in its original film performance in 2013 by Intrada Records, including Hepburn's recording for the first time on a soundtrack album.
The film has also inspired other music outside of its original soundtrack. In 1995, the American alternative rock band Deep Blue Something released a song titled "Breakfast at Tiffany's", which became a hit in several countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia. The song appeared in a Saturday Night Live sketch in 2010 and was also featured in an episode of New Girl in 2012.
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The impact of the film's costumes
Breakfast at Tiffany's, released in 1961, is a romantic comedy-drama starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a young woman in New York City who meets a young aspiring writer when he moves into her apartment building. The film was a commercial success, and Hepburn's performance received rave reviews, with many praising her innate ability to elevate even the simplest of garments, turning them into fashion statements. Hepburn's wardrobe in the film has since become iconic and is characterised by a range of exquisite ensembles, from glamorous cocktail dresses adorned with pearls and jewels to chic daytime outfits featuring cropped jackets, blue jeans, and fashionable hats.
One of Hepburn's most memorable and widely recognised costumes in the film is the iconic little black dress, designed by her favourite fashion designer, Hubert de Givenchy. The dress is accessorised with a triple strand of pearls, black gloves, and oversized dark sunglasses. Hepburn's white dress, which she wears with pearls and heels, has also endured as a symbol of iconic style. The film features several other memorable costumes, including a chic white suit, glamorous bridal shoes, and a stylish sleep mask and pyjama set.
Hepburn's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's solidified her status as a timeless fashion icon and provided endless inspiration for fashion lovers and bridal parties alike. The film's costumes continue to captivate fashion enthusiasts, with Hepburn's ability to make fashion statements enduring as a lasting impact of the film. Hepburn's style in the film is often characterised by tailored silhouettes, clean lines, and effortlessly chic outfits, with her favourite pieces including cropped jackets, which she often coordinated with matching short skirts.
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Frequently asked questions
The film has a running time of 115 minutes.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a romantic comedy about a young writer, Paul Varjack, who falls in love with Holly Golightly, an eccentric party girl determined to marry a millionaire.
The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, and George Peppard as Paul Varjack.
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