who was the female lead in breakfast at tiffany

Full Answer

See more

Who is the main character in breakfast at Tiffany's?

Holly GolightlyAudrey HepburnMr. YunioshiMickey RooneyPaul VarjakGeorge PeppardSally TomatoAlan ReedO.J. BermanMartin BalsamMag WildwoodDorothy WhitneyBreakfast at Tiffany's/Characters

Who was first choice for breakfast at Tiffany's?

Marilyn MonroeHere the author offers five things you may not know about Breakfast at Tiffany's: Marilyn Monroe was first choice to play Holly Golightly. Audrey Hepburn was afraid Holly would debase her image--she didn't want the part.

How old was Audrey Hepburn when she was in breakfast at Tiffany's?

thirty-one years oldAudrey Hepburn was thirty-one years old when playing Holly. Holly Golightly wears the same dresses all the way through the movie, simply changing the accessories to give each outfit a different look. Her black shift dress features through the movie at least four times.

What does $50 for the powder room mean?

Holly is given $50 "for the powder room" by a male acquaintance, as payment for her companionship that evening. 4.

What does the cat symbolize in breakfast at Tiffany's?

When she realizes the horrible mistake she has made and tries desperately to find him, the cat symbolizes Holly's realization that she's scared about never belonging anywhere or to anyone.

What caused Audrey Hepburn's shake?

Hepburn's was referred to as familial tremor, the inherited form. Each child of a parent with the disease has a 50 percent chance of inheriting a gene that causes it. In other cases, there is no family history. The disorder, which varies in location and severity, used to be called palsy.

What is Audrey Hepburn's most famous quote?

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Why is it called breakfast at Tiffany's?

The title Breakfast at Tiffany's is drawn from an anecdote popular among Capote's social circle about an ignorant out-of-towner who, upon being asked which glamorous New York restaurant he would like to visit, answered, "Well, let's have breakfast at Tiffany's".

What did Holly Golightly get from Tiffany's?

Holly and Paul agree to spend the day together, taking turns doing things each has never done before. At Tiffany's, Paul has the ring from Doc Golightly's box of Cracker Jack engraved as a present for Holly.

Who was the inspiration for Holly Golightly?

Marguerite LittmanShe knew everyone, Truman Capote said. And she drew on her friends to contribute to her efforts in the fight against AIDS.

Who does Holly fall in love with in breakfast at Tiffany's?

After some careful thinking, Holly goes after Paul. She finds him and her cat too. At the end, the two embrace each other while sharing a deep kiss.

Who does Holly love in breakfast at Tiffany's?

She and her brother Fred eventually run away and they end up living at Doc Golightly's after one of his daughters finds them trying to steal milk. The two look so pitiful that Doc takes them in, and Holly eventually marries him because he's been so good to her and because, as she tells us, she loves him.

What is the most famous thing in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Often misidentified as Ray-Ban, they are Manhattan sunglasses designed and manufactured in London by Oliver Goldsmith. In 2011 the model was re-released to mark the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's. One of three dresses designed by Givenchy for Hepburn for possible use in the film sold at auction by Christie's on December 5, 2006 for £467,200 (~US$947,000), about seven times the reserve price. The "Little Black Dress" by Givenchy, worn by Hepburn in the beginning of the film, is cited as one of the most iconic items of clothing in the history of the twentieth century and is, perhaps, the most famous little black dress of all time. A second "little black dress" in Breakfast at Tiffany's, along with its wide-brimmed hat, was worn by Hepburn as Holly when she goes to visit mobster Sally Tomato at Sing Sing Prison. This dress was paid homage as one of the dresses worn by Anne Hathaway's character Selina Kyle, Catwoman 's alter ego, in Christopher Nolan 's The Dark Knight Rises; the comic book Catwoman drawn by artist Adam Hughes, was based on Hepburn, creating a double homage to Hepburn's Holly Golightly in Hathaway's Catwoman.

What year was Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Reception. Breakfast at Tiffany's was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures on October 5, 1961 to critical and commercial success, grossing $14 million on a $2.5 million budget. Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is generally considered to be one of her most memorable and identifiable roles.

Why was Holly's opening scene so difficult to shoot?

According to one report, the film's on-location opening sequence, in which Holly gazes into a Tiffany's display window , was extremely difficult for director Blake Edwards to shoot. Although it was simple in concept, crowd control, Hepburn's dislike of pastries, and an accident that nearly resulted in the electrocution of a crew member are all said to have made capturing the scene a challenge. However, another report claims that the sequence was captured rather quickly due to the good fortune of an unexpected traffic lull.

Why did Mickey Rooney wear makeup?

For his portrayal of I. Y. Yunioshi, Mickey Rooney wore makeup and a prosthetic mouthpiece to change his features to a caricatured approximation of a Japanese person. Since the 1990s, this portrayal has been subject to increasing protest by Asian Americans, among others. For instance, in the film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), Breakfast at Tiffany's is used as an illustration of Hollywood's racist depiction of Asian people when Bruce Lee and his future wife, Linda, see the film and Linda suggests they leave when she notices that Bruce is upset at Rooney's caricatured performance.

Why did Bruce Lee leave Breakfast at Tiffany's?

For instance, in the film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), Breakfast at Tiffany's is used as an illustration of Hollywood's racist depiction of Asian people when Bruce Lee and his future wife, Linda, see the film and Linda suggests they leave when she notices that Bruce is upset at Rooney's caricatured performance.

Who won the Best Original Score for Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Mancini won for Best Original Score. There are also unreleased score pieces from Breakfast at Tiffany's in existence; "Carousel Cue" is from an unsurfaced scene, while "Outtake 1" is from a deleted scene in which Holly and Fred visit Tiffany's and is a variation of the main theme.

Who is Holly's husband in The Greyhound?

Some time later, 2E enters Paul's apartment, worried she is being followed. Paul tells her he will investigate and eventually confronts Holly's husband, Doc Golightly, who explains that Holly's real name is Lula Mae Barnes and that they were married when she was approaching 14. Now he wants to take her back to rural Texas. After Paul reunites Holly and Doc, she informs Paul that the marriage was annulled. At the Greyhound bus station, she tells Doc she will not return with him, and he leaves broken-hearted.

Storyline

After one of her frequent visits to Tiffany's--New York City's dazzling jewellery store--and the maximum security Sing-Sing prison for mobster Sally Tomato's weekly "weather report", Holly Golightly, Manhattan's elegant socialite, finds herself infatuated with her charming new neighbour, Paul Varjak.

Did you know

Audrey Hepburn 's salary for the film was $750,000, making her the highest paid actress per film at the time.

Contribute to this page

What is the streaming release date of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) in Spain?

Who is Madame Sapphia Spanella?

Madame Sapphia Spanella is an old woman who lives in the narrator and Holly ’s building. Incensed that Holly comes and goes at all hours of the night and entertains so many men, Madame Spanella frequently threatens to call the police and often accuses Holly of being a “whore.”

Who is Sally Tomato?

Sally Tomato. Sally Tomato is a mob boss serving time in Sing Sing prison. When the narrator first meets Holly, she tells him that she visits Sally every Thursday. When the narrator asks why, Holly explains… read analysis of Sally Tomato.

Who is Holly Golightly's brother?

Fred. Fred, who never actually appears in the novel, is Holly Golightly ’s brother. By leaving Doc Golightly ’s house to live her own life, Holly was forced to leave Fred behind—something that caused her great… read analysis of Fred.

What is Holly's role in the mafia?

A major figure in the New York mafia incarcerated in Sing Sing prison on racketeering charges, and with whom Holly gets involved in a major drug scandal. Pretending that she is Sally's niece, Holly pays him regular visits, for which she earns $100 per week. At her visits, Sally gives Holly "the weather report" - statements encoded as information about the weather - which she then repeats to his lawyer O'Shaughnessy. Sally warns Holly before she is arrested, and Holly defends him in her public statements to the press on the day of her arrest.

Where does the narrator meet Holly?

The narrator meets him at one of Holly's parties, where he shares the story of his unsuccessful attempts to transform Holly, whom he calls a "real phony", from a teenage runaway to a Hollywood starlet.

How tall is Holly's brother?

Holly's beloved brother, who does not appear in the narrative action. Holly describes him as "sweet", "vague", "slow", and over six feet tall, a height she attributes to his affection for peanut butter. Holly calls the narrator "Fred", as he reminds her of her brother. A soldier in the U.S. military, Fred is killed in overseas action halfway through the novella, a tragedy that causes Holly great grief. After he dies, Holly never mentions her brother again, and stops calling the narrator "Fred".

What does Sally give Holly?

At her visits, Sally gives Holly "the weather report" - statements encoded as information about the weather - which she then repeats to his lawyer O'Shaughnessy. Sally warns Holly before she is arrested, and Holly defends him in her public statements to the press on the day of her arrest.

What does Berman do when Holly is arrested?

When Holly is arrested, Berman hires her a top lawyer on the condition that his name not be connected with the scandal.

Who is the man who resembles Holly?

On a trip through Africa, when Yunioshi discovers an African man who has a carving that resembles Holly, he tries to buy it for a large amount of money and goods. Yunioshi also photographs the model Mag Wildwood for a major magazine shoot.

Who is Sally Tomato's lawyer?

He is Sally Tomato's main accomplice in the scandal involving Holly Golightly. Telling Holly he is Sally's lawyer, O'Shaughnessy arranges for Holly's visits to Sing Sing, and pays her weekly salary after Holly has given him "the weather report".

What does "breakfast at Tiffany's" mean?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s illustrates what it might look like for a woman to live on her own terms instead of acquiescing to the gender dynamics of the 20th century, which generally promoted female passivity and conformity to patriarchal expectations .

What is the theme of Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Below you will find the important quotes in Breakfast at Tiffany’s related to the theme of Female Independence and Freedom.

How does Holly live her life?

Holly lives her life according to what she wants, paying little attention to what other people expect of her. This is especially evident in the way she ignores Madame Sapphia Spanella’s repeated complaints about her late-night parties and unconventional hours. In fact, Madame Spanella is a perfect embodiment of society’s intolerance of young women who don’t adhere to rigid conceptions of decency. At one point, for instance, Madame Spanella asks the other tenants in the building to sign a petition to evict Holly on the grounds that the young woman is “morally objectionable.” Of course, Holly has merely hosted parties and invited men into her apartment, but Madame Spanella sees this behavior as repugnant and reprehensible, as if young women are only allowed to socialize in certain ways and in certain contexts. Even within the confines of her own home, then, Holly faces criticism and disapproval about the way she lives—an indication of just how pervasive such ideals were and how difficult it was for an independent young woman living in the 1940s to avoid them.

Why does Holly visit Sally in prison?

She does this because O’Shaughnessy approached her and claimed that Sally once saw her and took a liking to her.

What does Holly do when the men go out with her?

Furthermore, the men who go out with Holly and pay her to accompany them in public try to force themselves into her life by accompanying her home and attempting to weasel their way into her apartment. However, Holly is quite adept at sidestepping any effort to inhibit her autonomy.

Why does Madame Sapphia Spanella threaten to call the police?

For instance, Holly’s neighbor Madame Sapphia Spanella frequently threatens to call the police because she’s uncomfortable with the bohemian, modern lifestyle that Holly has introduced to the building.

What is Holly's relationship with the narrator?

Holly is unapologetically her own person, and this is perhaps why she develops such a close friendship with the unnamed narrator, who is quite passive and whom she calls Fred, after her own brother. Even this small detail says something about their relationship: Holly has so much control over their connection that she chooses what to call her new friend, effectively confirming that she’s free to do whatever she wants. Unfortunately, though, she doesn’t have this level of control over other areas of her life—something that becomes evident when she’s eventually arrested as a result of her involvement with a mobster named Sally Tomato. Throughout the novella, Holly visits Sally in prison, passing along coded messages between him and a man on the outside named Oliver O’Shaughnessy. She does this because O’Shaughnessy approached her and claimed that Sally once saw her and took a liking to her. Now, O’Shaughnessy tells her, Sally wants company while he serves time in prison, and though Holly senses that the mobster has an ulterior motive, she decides to go along with the plan simply because she likes visiting Sally. This willingness to break the law aligns with Holly’s overall lack of interest in anything that might curtail her ability to choose what she does with her life. In the end, she gets arrested and then flees to Brazil, demonstrating that she’ll do anything to protect her autonomy.

What is the movie Breakfast at Tiffany based on?

18 Hearty Facts About. Breakfast at Tiffany's. The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, based on Truman Capote’s novella, starred Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, one of the most iconic characters to ever appear on screen. The seemingly naive young girl who is sought out by wealthy men and looking to marry into money is befriended by struggling ...

Who were the people who were in the Holly Golightly sweepstakes?

heiress Gloria Vanderbilt, dancer Joan McCracken, Carol Grace, Capote ’s mother Lillie Mae (similar to Holly’s real name of Lula Mae), Carol Marcus, author Doris Lilly, Capote high school friend Phoebe Pierce, Oona O'Neill Chaplin, writer and journalist Maeve Brennan, and model/actress Suzy Parker. Capote called the speculation "the Holly Golightly sweepstakes,” and claimed that the real Holly was a woman who lived downstairs from him in the early 1940s. One Bonnie Golightly filed a lawsuit for libel and invasion of privacy against Capote saying she was the inspiration, but she officially lost the “sweepstakes.”

Who designed Holly's dress?

HOLLY'S DRESS WAS CUSTOM MADE. Hubert de Givenchy designed. Holly's famous little black dress. It was auctioned off in 2006 at Christie’s for over $900,000. Hepburn and Givenchy had worked together in the past on Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), and Love in the Afternoon (1957). 9.

Who voices Holly in Looney Tunes?

The voice of Holly’s over-eager date remained officially uncredited, but some believe it sounds a lot like legendary voice actor Mel Blanc, who voiced Barney Rubble—not to mention Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and other classic Warner Bros. cartoon characters in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. 11.

Who played Sally Tomato in the movie?

A smoker used by a beekeeper was brought in to create enough smoke. 10. FRED FLINTSTONE AND POSSIBLY BARNEY RUBBLE WERE IN IT. Alan Reed. , who was the original voice of Fred Flintstone, played mobster Sally Tomato in the movie.

Who was the real Holly Golightly?

Capote called the speculation "the Holly Golightly sweepstakes,” and claimed that the real Holly was a woman who lived downstairs from him in the early 1940s. One Bonnie Golightly filed a lawsuit for libel and invasion of privacy against Capote saying she was the inspiration, but she officially lost the “sweepstakes.”.

Who played the woman in Trainwreck?

The part was originally played by Dorothy Whitney, an actress with only two movie credits to her IMDb name. Today, standup and actress Amy Schumer of Trainwreck and I Feel Pretty would bring her own brand of bawdiness to the scene-stealing role.

Who played the vet in Beverly Hillbillies?

Star of stage, screen and television, Buddy Ebsen ("Jed Clampett" on The Beverly Hillbillies) played the small-town vet who must return home without his Lulamae. Country music star and actor McGraw would bring his down-home persona fans saw in The Blind Side, Country Strong and Friday Night Lights to the role.

Who played Fred Flintstone in the 1940s?

Originally played by Alan Reed, who was not only a strong, gruff, burly character actor in the 1940s and 50s but the cartoon voice of "Fred Flintstone," today the role would have to be played by present-day tough guy Ray Donovan.

Who played the role of Bateman in the movie?

Martin Balsam played the role, one of many standout performances by one of the most successful New York actors of the 1950s and 60s. Stepping into the part now would be Bateman, who would offer his signature straight man delivery and dry humor.

Overview

Plot

Cast

Production

Reception

Home media

Stage adaptations

See also