Great on-stage presence is always a positive attribute in any actor/actress. That presence can make up for a bad performance, bad story and in rare cases both. In “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,†Audrey Hepburn ( “War and Peace,†“Always,†“My Fair Ladyâ€) brings her magnetic and charismatic persona to the forefront of a movie that has a fun and witty story, that combined with Hepburn’s stellar performance, is a classic romantic comedy that will attract non-fans of the film genre and convert them to the church known as Hepburnism.
Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly, a New York woman who falls in love with her next door neighbor Paul “Fred†Varjak, played by George Peppard (“PJ,†“The A-Team,†“How the West Was Wonâ€). Throughout the movie, Golightly is on a quest to give her life meaning, but conforms to the stereotypical views of society every time, and in the process has lost any identity she thought she had. Instead of following her heart, she finds herself dating rich men that have nothing to offer her, thus breaking hearts and making herself miserable in the process. This is where the small pocketed Varjak comes in as he slowly but surely sweeps Golightly off her feet in this fantastic romantic comedy.
While Hepburn manages to be somewhat zany in the beginning of the movie with lines like “If I found somewhere exactly like Tiffany’s, why I’d buy some furniture and name the cat,†she eventually turns in a stellar emotional performance and wins our hearts with her beautiful rendition of “Moon River†(That was written specifically for her to sing in the movie, and it is in the same octave throughout to best accommodate her singing ability.) and the eventual acceptance of Paul’s love that completes her character and the film. Hepburn shines vibrantly during each and every scene in this movie regardless of if she’s crying her eyes out or laughing hysterically. From this movie it is easy to see why Hepburn is highly regarded as a pioneer in great female acting. Hepburn is as beautiful as she is talented, and that is no easy task.
Every little nuance Hepburn performs in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is either perfectly adorable or un-mistakenly charming. Even during more emotional scenes Hepburn proves in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s†that she is a rare screen gem and that is capable of making people laugh and cry at the same time. Hepburn’s ability to play a scared southern woman in denial of her identity and a New York phony really show off her well-rounded acting ability. It’s Hepburn’s eclectic style makes this movie not one to be missed by anyone.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s†is a great example of fantastic movie-making. Blake Edwards did a fantastic job directing this film, as it is soaked in enthusiasm, drama and smile educing moments throughout. From the party scene that has New York aristocrats getting plastered, to the scene that has Holly and Paul causing a ruckus at the library, this movie does a great job of capturing the excitement and drama of living in New York City during the ‘60s. The movie also has a fantastic sense of fashion, as Hepburn sets major fashion tends with beautiful hats and dresses throughout the movie and Peppard wears handsome and sophisticated business suits throughout the movie. The music, featuring an instrumental and two different vocal versions of “Moon River†that start the movie, are top notch, as they capture the essence of every scene regardless of if it’s happy or sad.
Overall “Breakfast at Tiffany’s†is a defining film in the Romantic Comedy genre, filled with one-liners that you will remember for a lifetime. The antics of a name-less cat will make you laugh and the undying, loyal love that Varjak has for the psychotic-at-times Golightly will reduce you to tears, that is if you can shake the beautiful and awe-inducing trance of Hepburn long enough to pay attention to the movie.
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