"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is an adaptation of Truman Capote's best-selling book. Although Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play the main character, the role went to Audrey Hepburn. Along with "My Fair Lady" and "Roman Holiday", it was one of her best remembered films, and she would receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a winsome socialite who maintains her Manhattan apartment by doing favors for men. These favors aren't exactly specified, except for her paid visits to a convict (Alan Reed) in Sing Sing. It is implied, however, that she is an escort. Her new neighbor is author Paul Varjak (George Peppard), whose literary career is on hold while he plays gigolo to a jaded Patricia Neal.
As they are the two best looking people in the cast, Holly and Paul soon become friends. Paul takes a romantic but paternal interest in Holly. He tries to unravel the mysteries of her moods, insecurities, and past history. He is aided by her would-be agent (Martin Balsam) and an Oklahoma farmer (Buddy Ebsen) who claims to be her husband. Paul's interest in Holly is also shared by her wealthy paramours (Jose-Luis de Vilallonga and Stanley Adams).
The great box office success of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was primarily due to Hepburn's presence. Many women identified closely with lovely, fashionable, vulnerable Hepburn and her characters. While Peppard sees a lot of screen time, he is mostly a straight man and prop for Hepburn. Their scenes together have her prattling on and on, while he listens and occasionally injects moral commentary.
There are many funny scenes early in the film. Balsam is particularly entertaining, as he chases a woman named 'Irving' around at a party. Eventually the film drags, as Holly's mood changes from charming to petulant. Peppard is competent but wooden. He lacks the vitality and/or warmth of male leads in other Hepburn vehicles, such as Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper and Rex Harrison.
Mickey Rooney has a bizarre supporting role as Hepburn's landlord. He plays an excitable Japanese photographer, a complete caricature with mangled English and enormous buck teeth. His performance is too ridiculous to be racist, and too embarrassing to be funny. It's just bad, and part of the blame for it also has to go to the director, Blake Edwards.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is famous for introducing "Moon River", a romantic song with a sleepytime melody. Henry Mancini won two Oscars for the film; one for "Moon River", and another for the mellow jazz score. (50/100)
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