Actors - Breakfast at Tiffany's

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	Actors - Breakfast at Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a novella by Truman Capote, published in 1958. The story documents the life of a young woman, Holly Golightly, who is trying to find her place in the world when she meets "Fred" (who is without a name in the book, but christened "Paul Varjak" in the film). In 1961, Breakfast at Tiffany's was adapted as a film that follows some aspects of Capote's original story quite closely.

Adaptations

The film

A number of changes had to be made (to the author’s great displeasure) to make the storyline acceptable to a film audience and fans of Audrey Hepburn. For example, in the novella, Holly is more explicitly described as being a prostitute, something only hinted at in the film. Capote's novel also included language that was toned down as well as a more complex ending which became a conventional romantic happy ending for the film. There are also many homosexual undertones in the book as well, which would have clearly been quite unacceptable to most viewers at the time.

According to Hollywood rumor (supported by comments made on the 2006 45th anniversary DVD edition), Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly and may have written the original story with her in mind.

Another rumor exists regarding the difficulty in filming the film's on-location opening sequence, in which Holly gazes into a Tiffany’s display window. Although it was simple in concept, crowd control, Hepburn's dislike for pastries (something she was required to eat for the scene), and an accident that nearly resulted in the electrocution of a crew member are all said to have made capturing the scene a challenge for director Blake Edwards. However, Edwards, in an interview given for the 45th anniversary DVD, said that the sequence was captured rather quickly due to the good fortune of an unexpected traffic lull despite the location in the heart of Manhattan.

Audrey Hepburn introduced the film's signature song, "Moon River", by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Sung by Hepburn herself, it was written to her singing range as she was not an experienced singer (although she had performed vocal solos in 1957's Funny Face
). However, her definitive version of the song was not released on an album until after her death. Instead, "Moon River" became a major hit for Andy Williams, who made it his theme song. According to Mancini and Edwards, a studio executive hated the song and demanded it be cut from the film; Hepburn, who was present when this proclamation was made, responded to the suggestion with "over my dead body".

Wisp-thin Audrey Hepburn as Holly, carrying a cigarette holder almost as long as she is tall, is considered one of the iconic images of 20th century American cinema, and the film marked a major comeback for the actress after several years of unsuccessful films. The film also rejuvenated the career of 1930s movie song-and-dance man Buddy Ebsen, who had a small but effective role in this film as Doc Golightly, Holly's ex-husband. His success here led directly to him being cast in his best-known role as Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.

Some critics consider the film's sole blunder to be Mickey Rooney's racially stereotyped performance as Holly's Japanese landlord. In the 45th anniversary edition DVD release, producer Richard Shepherd repeatedly apologizes for this; Edwards does not. Edwards does, however, indicate that he might not have cast George Peppard in the lead male role of the film if he were to do it over again.

Academy Awards

Award wins

Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album or Recording or Score – (John Addison)
WGA for Best Written American Drama – (George Axelrod
)

Award nominations

DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures – (Blake Edwards)

Primary cast

Audrey Hepburn
: Holly Golightly
George Peppard
: Paul 'Fred' Varjak
Patricia Neal
: Tooley
Buddy Ebsen
: Doc Golightly
Martin Balsam
: O. J. Berman
José Luis de Villalonga : José da Silva Pereira
John McGiver
: Tiffany's salesman
Alan Reed
: Sally Tomato
Dorothy Whitney : Mag Wildwood
Mickey Rooney
: Mr. Yunioshi
Stanley Adams
: Rusty Trawler
Claude Stroud : Sid Arbuck
Rhubarb : Cat

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Breakfast at Tiffany's ]

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