Classic Movie: "Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)" in Athens

Based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same title, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961) is the story of a woman on her own making her way in the big city. As stories go, it is short on plot but rich in characterization which may explain why its protagonist, Holly Golightly, has become Audrey Hepburn's most memorable screen persona.

To watch the trailer of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" click the play > button.

In the hands of director Blake Edwards, the film neglects much of the book's foreboding edge, but gains an unforgettable comedic touch which actually helps accentuate the darker moments. In addition, Henry Mancini's musical score and Hubert de Givenchy's gowns for Ms. Hepburn successfully uphold Capote's style when the story itself is forced to leave his writing behind. Like the protagonist at its heart, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S is quirky, funny, bewildering, serious, sophisticated and bittersweet -- and as movies go, great entertainment.

Memorable Quotations:
"Poor old cat. Poor slob. Poor slob without a name. The way I look at it, I don't have the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up by the river one day." --Holly.
"I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is, but I know what it's like. It's like Tiffany's." --Holly.
"Listen...you know those days when you get the mean reds?" --Holly.
"The mean reds? You mean like the blues?" --Fred (Paul).
"No... the blues are because you're getting fat or because it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?" --Holly.
"Sure." --Fred (Paul).
"When I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump into a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away." --Holly.
"If I could find a real life place to make me feel like Tiffany's, then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name." --Holly.
"Thursday! Oh no, it can't be! It's too gruesome!" --Holly.
"You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he give you... I must say, the mind reels!" --Holly.
"You don't have to worry. I've taken care of myself for a long time." --Holly.

Cast:
Holly Golightly (Lulamae Barnes) Audrey Hepburn
Paul Varjak (Fred) George Peppard
2-E (Mrs. Louise Failenson) Patricia Neal
Doc Golightly Buddy Ebsen
O. J. Berman Martin Balsam
José da Silva Pereira José Luis de Villalonga (as Vilallonga)
Tiffany's salesman John McGiver
Sally Tomato Alan Reed

19.06.2008