1961, Film: “Breakfast at Tiffany's”

The American romantic comedy "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is released on 5 October 1961 in the USA by Paramount Pictures. The film, directed by Blake Edwards, was written by George Axelrod based on the novel with the same name by Truman Capote from 1953. Main stars are Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is one of her most memorable roles. The music, with the famous song "Moon River" with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, was written by Henry Mancini.

Synopsis

Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) is a charming socialite who lives alone in a flat. She lives her live with childlike innocence but nevertheless wears the most perfect designer clothes from Givenchy. She escorts various wealthy men but she fails to return their affections. When she meets her new neighbour, writer Paul Varjak (George Peppard), her carefree independence is overturned...

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly with "Cat"

George Peppard as Paul Varjak and Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

Main cast

• Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly
• George Peppard as Paul Varjak
• Patricia Neal as Mrs. Emily Eustace "2E" Failenson
• Buddy Ebsen as Doc Golightly
• Martin Balsam as O.J. Berman
• Mickey Rooney as I.Y. Yunioshi
• Alan Reed as Sally Tomato
• José Luis de Vilallonga as José da Silva Pereira
• Stanley Adams as Rutherford "Rusty" Trawler
• John McGiver as Tiffany's salesman
• Dorothy Whitney as Mag Wildwood
• Claude Stroud as Sid Arbuck

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, singing "Moon River"

George Peppard as Paul Varjak and Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

Awards

• Academy Awards, USA (1962), Oscar for Best Music, Original Song: Henry Mancini (music), Johnny Mercer (lyrics) for the song "Moon River"
• Academy Awards, USA (1962), Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Henry Mancini
• David di Donatello Awards, Italy (1962), David for Migliore Attrice Straniera (Best Foreign Actress): Audrey Hepburn
• Grammy Awards, USA (1962), Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album or Recording or Score from Motion Picture or Television: Henry Mancini
• Grammy Awards, USA (1962), Grammy for Record of the Year: Henry Mancini and His Orchestra (For the song "Moon River")
• Grammy Awards, USA (1962), Grammy for Song of the Year: Henry Mancini (composer), Johnny Mercer (lyricist), Henry Mancini and His Orchestra (performer) (For the song "Moon River")
• Grammy Awards, USA (1962), Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement: Henry Mancini (For the song "Moon River")
• Grammy Awards, USA (1962), Grammy for Best Performance by an Orchestra - for Other Than Dancing: Henry Mancini
• Laurel Awards, USA (1962), Golden Laurel for Top Song: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini (For the song "Moon River")

George Peppard as Paul Varjak and Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and George Peppard as Paul Varjak

Trivia

• The song "Moon River" was especially written for Audrey Hepburn by Henry Mancini. Many versions later Mancini said that Audrey's performance was the best.
• Writer Truman Capote was unhappy with the decision to cast Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, his choice for the role was Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was originally cast as Golightly, but her coach advised her not to play the role.
• Other actresses that turned down the role were Shirley MacLaine and Kim Novak.
• Audrey Hepburn received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress.
• The famous black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the opening scenes of the movie was sold for £467,200 on December 4, 2006 at Christie's Auction House in London, making it the second most expensive piece of film memorabilia ever sold.
• With her role as Holly Golightly, Audrey Hepburn became one of the style icons of the 1960s.
• The song "Moon River" was selected as the fourth most memorable song in Hollywood history by the American Film Institute in 2004 (after: "Over the Rainbow", "As Time Goes By" and "Singin' in the Rain").
• In 2012 "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was considered as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly

Original 1961 trailers

"Breakfast at Tiffany's", trailer 1

"Breakfast at Tiffany's", trailer 2