This weekend I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's once again for the third or fourth time -- but for the first time in at least a decade -- and came away convinced more than ever that it is one of the defining documents of this "hobby."

For those who don't know -- the movie was made in the early 60s -- BaT is the story of Holly Golightly, a provider in the call-girl mold in New York City of the late 50s.  She is the classic "provider" personality:  she lives 110 percent in the moment; she appears to be all there at once; yet there is a mysterious side that's never revealed.  She is ebullient and uplifting and companionable, yet lonely.  

The title, like all good titles, kind of sums it up, but you have to understand it.  Tiffany's is not a restaurant; it's a very, very high end jewelery store on Fifth Avenue.  Holly gets depressed from time to time, and to relieve her depression, she goes to Tiffany's, where "everything is wonderful and nothing can ever go wrong."  The movie opens as she gets out of a cab at dawn in front of Tiffany's, returning from all night with clients, and she's depressed.  She has a paper cup of coffee and a Danish, and she wistfully stares into  the windows as she nibbles the edge of the pastry and sips on the coffee.

For anyone remotely serious about this hobby, it's required viewing.  The novella by Truman Capote is equally good, in a different way.

Thanks for this review. I haven't seen the movie and never knew what it was about. I will need to check it out.

I would also suggest Butterfield 8 [Elizabeth Taylor + Lawrence Harvery] is a great movie on the subject ... ESPECIALLY for those on either side who had ever developed more than a casual liking for the other side ... I submit that B8 is so frightfully realistic.  

I have a vauge memory that Elizabeth Taylor won an oscar or nominated for it, but not sure, so don't quote me!

If you want to rent Breakfast at Tiffany's, rent Butterfield 8 to.

I always wondered why it was one of my wife's favorite movies.

Nationwide Spike In Rentals of "Breakfast"

Just a headline for tomorrow's paper that popped into my head as I was driving to the video store.

This is a really good movie, too. It's still in theater!!!!!!!!!


Crime/Gangster, Drama and Thriller
1 hr. 49 min. Aileen Wuornos (Theron) had a difficult and cruel childhood plagued by abuse and drug use in Michigan, becoming a prostitute (and pregnant) by the age of 13. Wuornos eventually moved to Florida where she became a highway prostitute, servicing the desires of semi-truck drivers. This movie focuses on the nine month period in 1989 and 1990 during which she had a lesbian relationship with a woman named Selby (Ricci), and during which she also began murdering any of her clientele who tried to rape her.  
Release Date:  December 24th, 2003 (NY).  
MPAA Rating:   R for strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language.  
Distributor:   Newmarket Films

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Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Bubba Baker  
Directed by: Patty Jenkins  
Produced by: Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Clark Peterson, Brad Wyman, Mark Damon, Donald Kushner, Sammy Lee  

It's been said that Marylin Monroe was Capote's first choice for the role of Holly.Oh but Audrey wore them dark glasses very well indeed in the role,chap.

Another interesting tidbit: After the very first screening of "Breakfast at Tiffanys", the president of Paramount paced around the room, puffing on a cigar, and said, "Well, I'll tell you one thing, you can get rid of the song." Thankfully, Audrey was there and to her credit, she stood up and said, "Over my dead body."

Henri Mancini's "Moon River" won the Academy Award in 1962 for Best Original Song.It then Became Andy Williams signature' song.

Tally-Ho!

You old fart you...

Now...Moondance by Van Morrison...That's kickin!


Cheers!

I saw it first run when I was about 10 yrs. old; didn't know what the hell was going on.  Favorite part was Mickey  Rooney.  I suspect his role will make a lot of you cringe now, you'll know what I mean when you seet it. As for Liz in B8, I don't think they'd give her the award for such a controversial role; think she got it a year or two later for some POS (and for almost dying from one of her many serious illnesses) but the award was really because they knew they'd screwed her. Re: both movies -- THEY DON'T MAKE'M LIKE THAT NO MORE.

Was a Very Controversial movie, with unknown actresses at the time, Brook Shields and Susan Sarandon.

It was filmed in New Orleans brothel many years ago. Brook was  young when she filmed this movie and it had a very strong content for a young girl. I'm sure that you will agree if you watch it.


-- Modified on 3/21/2004 10:06:52 PM

I was already in love with Audrey Hepburn.  Have been for decades.

You forgot to mention she almost snagged a millionaire in marriage before things went wrong for her in the end.  It's listed on my website as one of my all time favorites!

xoxo
Lily

Ah, but did things really go wrong?

Several movies have been discussed above...

Do you identify with any of the characters in the films as providing an emotionally accurate picture of the life?

the movie made the ending happy.

for a guy who's obviously into identifying w/ movies.  By the way, ride any ferris wheels lately?

No kidding, really!

Think about it.  Four guys chasing something that is not only etherial and elusive, but once they catch it, they don't really know what to do with it.

High prices are paid, everyone is happy for the moment, but the government steps in, screws things up and the whole scene got to hell in a hand basket.

Then there is that winsome bitch with all the powers.  Truly a Dommie if you ever saw one.  Also, consider Weaver!  Wow, can any guy really say he doesn't get a woody for her?

Now, where did I put my coffee cup.....

It wasn't Harry Lime that rode the Farris Wheel.  In real life, I'm slimer, stronger, & more fun to be with.  I have never been in the Vienna Sewers and I have never sold black market penicillin.  However, if you hear that I am dead, don't believe anything you hear.

See you in some other Grayham Greene Novel.


Harry

I wouldn't surprise me a bit if some of our lady friends come from similar backgrounds as Streisand's character and if their parents knew their business they would say their daughters were crazy too - anything to save the family name.

Besides when she lays into the state's attorney during cross examination if you don't get wood you gotta be medically impaired.

it's a great movie, and I love the classics, of course I also like "Pulp Fiction."

Hugs,
Ciara

Now if you want to see a movie with a far-out approach to life, see "Blue Velvet" for a real roller coaster ride and education.

I never watched it but have the DVD. I did not know it was about that!
Sara

"Yes, him." (pointing to the bailiff)

"Why him?"

"He's the only one who doesn't want to help me."

Great stuff.

I love movies.  I hated BAT.  Like any work of art, we bring our prejudices, our likes and our intuition to the interpretation of film, which means none of us will see it exactly the same.  I found BAT a vacuous compilation of unimaginatively drawn characters acting out neutered lives in the big bad apple (replete with party scenes contrasted with humble pie farmer husbands).  What an unsightly mess--even Audrey Hepburn couldn't save this tripe.  For a story about the empty life in the big city, I'd much rather sit through another reading of Bright Lights Big City or watch Chinatown (although that's really about the seamy birth of modern LA).  I could hardly keep dinner down watching BAT.