Travis Simpkins: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961): Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961): Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

When Truman Capote was writing his novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's, he had Marilyn Monroe envisioned as the lead character, Holly Golightly, and even based his description of Holly on her. After the film rights were sold to Paramount Studios, the part was naturally offered to Marilyn at Capote's request. Surprisingly, she turned down the part, based on advice that playing a "prostitute" would hurt her image, even despite the risqué aspects of the book being toned down for the screen version. Paramount then offered the role to Audrey Hepburn, much to the chagrin and anger of Capote. For Hepburn, who was an unusual choice given her refined persona, Holly Golightly was the most difficult role she ever played. As a self-described "introvert playing an extrovert", she was unsure how it would come across. It all worked out famously, though. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) was a huge hit, with it's theme song "Moon River" becoming one of the most popular tunes of the era, and Holly Golightly became Audrey's most enduring, identifiable role.

A writer named Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into a NYC apartment and becomes fascinated by his beautiful neighbor, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), who lives alone downstairs with her nameless cat...