Sophia Mitchell
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards, based on the 1958 novella of the same name by Truman Capote. The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a naive, eccentric socialite who meets Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building. The title of the film is derived from an anecdote about an out-of-towner who, when asked which glamorous New York restaurant he would like to visit, replied, Well, let's have breakfast at Tiffany's. In the film, Holly, with her coffee and croissant, gazes into the Tiffany's store window, representing her desire for the finer things in life. The film and novella have captivated audiences for generations, with Hepburn's performance as the iconic Holly Golightly becoming a defining moment in her career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Release Date | 1961 |
| Film Director | Blake Edwards |
| Film Screenplay Writer | George Axelrod |
| Film Stars | Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, Mickey Rooney |
| Film Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Film Soundtrack | "Moon River" by Mancini |
| Film Score | Combo jazz |
| Original Novella Author | Truman Capote |
| Novella Publication Year | 1958 |
| Novella Setting | 1940s New York, Upper East Side |
| Novella Protagonist | Holly Golightly |
| Novella Protagonist Description | Naive, eccentric socialite |
| Title Origin | Holly Golightly's affinity for Tiffany's |
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What You'll Learn
Holly Golightly's character
Holly Golightly is the protagonist of Breakfast at Tiffany's, a film based on a novella of the same name by Truman Capote. The film, released in 1961, stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly.
Holly is a complex character, described as a "call girl", "sex worker", "escort", American Geisha, and "male slut" who "makes terrible life choices". She is a puzzle, full of contradictions, and the audience learns something new about her each time they watch the film. Holly is a young woman who fled an underage marriage and became entangled in organised crime. She is a social climber who spends so much time trying to be other people's dream girl that she doesn't know who she really is. She is honest and fun, and she throws crazy parties. She is also a "phony", running from her past.
Holly is drawn to Tiffany & Co. as a manifestation of an ideal. She finds the store calming and it represents a place where nothing bad could happen. She says: "If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany's, then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name". Holly's desire to have breakfast at Tiffany's is a metaphor for her aspiration to achieve a certain level of class and glamour.
The title of the film comes from an anecdote popular among Capote's social circle about an out-of-towner who, when asked which glamorous New York restaurant he would like to visit, answered: "Well, let's have breakfast at Tiffany's".
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Truman Capote's inspiration
Truman Capote's novella *Breakfast at Tiffany's* was published in 1958 and is set in 1940s New York, specifically the Upper East Side. The story follows a contemporary writer who meets his eccentric neighbour Holly Golightly, a naïve socialite.
Capote drew inspiration from gossip, personal experience, and the lives of his eccentric New York friends. The title of the novella is attributed to a scene in which Holly explains to the narrator that she visits a prisoner, Sally Tomato, every Thursday in exchange for $100. She also confides in the narrator that Tiffany's is the only place that calms her when she's feeling anxious or overwhelmed. The title is also drawn from an anecdote popular among Capote's social circle about an ignorant out-of-towner who, when asked which glamorous New York restaurant he would like to visit, answered, "Well, let's have breakfast at Tiffany's".
Capote originally envisioned Marilyn Monroe as Holly and lobbied the studio for her, but the role was ultimately played by Audrey Hepburn. Capote was highly critical of the film adaptation, referring to it as the "most miscast film" he'd ever seen.
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![Breakfast at Tiffany's (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81cBwfZ+o+L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The film's misinterpretation
Breakfast at Tiffany's, the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn, has been the subject of misinterpretation by audiences for decades. The film, based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name, presents a romanticised version of the original story, overshadowing its darker themes.
The film's protagonist, Holly Golightly, is a complex character who has been interpreted in various ways. On the surface, Holly appears to be a glamorous socialite, a portrayal that has been immortalised in popular culture. However, this interpretation overlooks the underlying nuances of her character. In the novella, Holly is an American Geisha or escort, a detail that is merely suggested in the film through euphemisms and implications. Holly's source of income is left ambiguous in the film, allowing audiences to focus on her charm and elegance rather than her profession.
The film also deviates significantly from the novella's ending. In the film, Holly and the male protagonist fall in love and stay together, whereas in the novella, there is no romantic relationship, and Holly leaves the United States without any knowledge of her subsequent whereabouts. This alteration in the film's narrative contributes to its misinterpretation, shifting the focus towards a romantic conclusion rather than the more complex reality of Holly's character.
The film's aesthetic and style have also been criticised for glossing over the grittier aspects of Holly's life. The iconic scenes of Hepburn window shopping outside Tiffany's with a coffee and a pastry have become synonymous with glamour and class. However, these scenes belie the reality of Holly's struggles, including her entanglement in organised crime and her past as a child bride fleeing an underage marriage.
Despite the film's misinterpretation of the source material, it has had a lasting impact on popular culture. Hepburn's portrayal of Holly has been credited with redefining her career and image, and the film has been influential in shaping perceptions of women during the second wave of feminism. While the film may have softened the edges of Holly's character, it has nonetheless contributed to the enduring appeal and fascination surrounding Breakfast at Tiffany's.
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The novella's setting
The novella, written by Truman Capote and published in 1958, is set in 1940s New York, specifically the Upper East Side, in a brownstone apartment. The area experienced significant changes following the Civil War, but its most notable transformation occurred at the turn of the century. Brownstones, the type of building in which Holly lives, were rebranded as stylish residences rather than outdated structures. By the 1940s, the Upper East Side had become a fairly affluent neighbourhood.
The setting of the novella plays a crucial role in the plot. Holly Golightly, the protagonist, is a naive, eccentric socialite. Various wealthy characters from the Upper East Side come in and go from Holly's life, reflecting the transient nature of high society life in that era. The novella also explores Holly's past, revealing that she fled an underage marriage and became entangled in organised crime.
The title "Breakfast at Tiffany's" originates from a scene in the novella where Holly confides in the narrator that Tiffany's is the only place that soothes her when she feels anxious or overwhelmed. This scene captures the essence of Holly's character and her search for happiness and calm amidst the glamour and chaos of New York City.
The novella's New York setting, with its blend of wealth and sophistication, provided a backdrop that influenced the plot and character development. It also contributed to the overall atmosphere and tone of the story, shaping it into a classic tale of romance, fantasy, and social commentary.
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The film's impact on feminism
The film adaptation of Truman Capote's novella Breakfast at Tiffany's has been the subject of much analysis and some controversy since its release in 1961. The film's impact on feminism has been a particular focus of interest.
The film's protagonist, Holly Golightly, has been described as a feminist icon. Holly is a complex character who has been interpreted as a "pitiable and careless soul whose blithe charm gives way at key moments to hysterical rage and spiteful cruelty". Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Holly has been influential, with some commentators noting that they know women who "tried to affect Holly's brittle hauteur".
Holly is a young woman who has fled an underage marriage and become a sex worker in New York. The film, however, does not explicitly acknowledge this aspect of Holly's life, and she has been described as an "almost-actress-proto-It-Girl". The film's treatment of sex work has been criticised as problematic, with Holly's profession romanticised and euphemised as that of an "American Geisha".
The film's treatment of sex and gender roles has also been a point of contention. Released at a time when second-wave feminism was emerging and women's voices were being heard in new ways, the film has been criticised for perpetuating a binary view of female sexuality, with women categorised as either "sluts or saints". The film's depiction of Holly as a glamorous, independent woman living alone in New York has been seen as a positive influence, challenging the gender norms of the time.
Overall, the film's impact on feminism is complex and multifaceted. While it has been praised for presenting a complex, independent female protagonist, it has also been criticised for its treatment of sex work and its perpetuation of binary views of female sexuality.
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Frequently asked questions
The title 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is derived from a scene in Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name, where the narrator and Holly Golightly's friendship develops as they share a meal outside the Tiffany & Co. store.
Holly Golightly is the protagonist of Truman Capote's novella and the subsequent film adaptation. Holly is a naive, eccentric socialite who meets a struggling writer, Paul Varjak, when he moves into her apartment building.
Holly considers Tiffany's to be a calming presence, a manifestation of an ideal that she is drawn to. She would have breakfast outside the store whenever she felt anxious or overwhelmed.
