Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's
New Paramount Centennial Edition DVD in Two-Disc Set
Dec 24, 2008
Socialite Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) appears to “go lightly,” but actually carries a heavy emotional burden with her. This burden – essential to understanding her odd behavior – isn’t revealed until later in the film.
The Beautiful and Stylish Holly Golightly
It’s not surprising that beautiful women intimidate some men. Only a ravishing party girl like Holly could treat men so poorly and still have them chasing after her. Instead of working, she earns a living by romancing, dating, and then discarding wealthy gentlemen. Unless they can provide her with fancy jewelry, and gourmet food and beverages, she wants nothing to do with them. Because of her lovely appearance from her stylishly coiffed hair down to her ridiculously expensive black alligator high heels, she gets away with petty theft and other shady behavior. Her childish ranting and posturing only entices more rich suitors to come calling on her. Holly somehow manages to charm nearly everyone she meets in her New York City social circle, except for her cranky building superintendent, Mr. Yunioshi (played by Mickey Rooney as an over-the-top Asian stereotype).
George Peppard Co-Stars as Holly’s Neighbor
When she meets her neighbor, Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a struggling writer, they enjoy a strange relationship in which he becomes smitten and she repeatedly gives mixed signals. Ironically, Paul also is involved in an improper relationship – courting a much older woman (Patricia Neal) he doesn’t love in order to support his starving-artist lifestyle. As an otherwise sensitive soul, Paul has an ability to see through Holly’s phony exterior and view the unhappy little girl underneath all the glitter and sophistication.
Audrey Hepburn Embraces the Role
A lesser actress may not have been able to engage viewers’ sympathy as well as Hepburn can. Fiercely independent in some ways and totally dependent in others, Holly believes herself to be a fierce wildcat that refuses to be tamed or caged. With another actress, these displeasing behaviors and self-destructive attitudes might have made audiences side with her jilted suitors, yet with Hepburn, we can’t help but sympathize with the enchanting young lady as she fights her inner demons.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s on DVD
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s - Paramount Centennial Collection (Two-Disc Edition)
- Starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Martin Balsam
- Director: Blake Edwards
- Run Time: 114 minutes
- Rating: Unrated
- DVD Bonus Features: Disc One – Commentary by producer Richard Shepherd; Disc Two – The Movie and featurettes including “A Golightly Gathering,” “Henry Mancini: More Than Music,” “The Making of a Classic,” “It’s So Audrey: A Style Icon,” and “Audrey’s Letter to Tiffany.” Also includes original movie trailers, photo gallery, and more short features.
- Additional Information: Based on Truman Capote’s novel, Breakfast at Tiffany’s won an Academy Award for best song for the wistful melody “Moon River” by composer Henry Mancini.
To learn more about the movies of Audrey Hepburn, read Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. For more new DVD releases, read New DVD Releases for January 2009.
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