Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and written by George Axelrod. It is based on the 1958 novella by Truman Capote. The film features Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney. In the story, Holly Golightly, a young and unusual socialite, meets a writer who is struggling and moves into her apartment building.
Plans for the film began soon after Capote’s novella was published. Many actors, including Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, Kim Novak, Steve McQueen, Jack Lemmon, and Robert Wagner, were considered for the main roles before Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard were chosen. The screenplay, which differs from Capote’s novella (where both main characters are gay), was first completed by Axelrod and director John Frankenheimer. Edwards replaced Frankenheimer later during production. Main filming started on October 2, 1960, in New York City and at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. The film’s music was composed by Henry Mancini, and its theme song, "Moon River," was written by Johnny Mercer.
Breakfast at Tiffany's was released in the United States on October 5, 1961, by Paramount Pictures. It earned $14 million worldwide and was praised for its music, Hepburn’s style, and her performance. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Hepburn, and won two awards: Best Music Score for Mancini and Best Song for Mancini and Mercer. It also received many other honors. However, Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of the character I. Y. Yunioshi later caused controversy because some people found it racist. In 2012, the film was added to the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Plot
Holly Golightly tries to avoid a man who asked her out the night before. She goes to the main Tiffany & Co. store but is later found by the same man at her apartment building. Holly cannot find her keys and asks her landlord, Mr. Yunioshi, to let her in. While preparing to leave for her weekly visit to an imprisoned gang member named Sally Tomato, Holly meets her new neighbor, Paul Varjak. Tomato’s lawyer gives Holly $100 each week to deliver a report about the weather. Holly also meets Paul’s friend, Emily Eustace Failenson, a wealthy older woman who Paul calls “2E.” Later that night, Holly climbs onto the fire escape to escape a man who is too eager to see her. There, she sees 2E leaving money for Paul and kissing him goodbye.
Holly visits Paul and learns he is a writer who has not published anything in five years and does not have a ribbon for his typewriter. Holly explains she is saving money to support her brother, Fred, after he finishes his time in the Army. The two fall asleep but wake up when Holly has a nightmare about Fred. When Paul asks about the dream, Holly tells him not to pry. Holly buys Paul a typewriter ribbon as an apology and invites him to a party at her apartment. There, Paul meets Holly’s Hollywood agent, Berman, who talks about Holly’s change from a country girl to a Manhattan socialite. Other guests include a wealthy Brazilian politician named José da Silva Pereira and a wealthy American named Rusty Trawler.
Later, 2E enters Paul’s apartment and is worried about a man loitering outside the building. Paul confronts the man, who says he is Holly’s husband, Doc Golightly. Doc explains Holly ran away and wants to take her back to Texas. After Paul helps Holly reunite with Doc, she tells Paul their marriage was legally ended and refuses to return with Doc. After drinking at a club, Paul and Holly return to her apartment, where Holly says she plans to marry Trawler for his money. A few days later, Paul learns a short story inspired by Holly will be published. On his way to tell Holly, he sees a newspaper headline stating Trawler has married someone else.
Holly and Paul agree to spend the day together, each trying new activities they have never done before. At Tiffany’s, Paul engraves a ring from a Cracker Jack box as a gift for Holly. After spending the night together, Paul wakes up to find Holly gone. 2E arrives and calmly accepts when Paul ends their relationship, realizing he loves Holly. Later, after a date with José, Holly learns Fred has died and destroys her apartment.
Months later, Holly prepares to move to Brazil to marry José but is arrested for being connected to a drug ring run by Sally Tomato. Berman pays her bail, and Paul picks her up in a taxi with all her belongings, including her pet cat and a breakup letter from José. Holly decides to go to Brazil anyway, breaking bail, as Paul declares he loves her. Holly refuses to be in a relationship and scolds him, then releases the cat into an alley. Paul leaves the engraved ring with Holly and storms out of the taxi. After Holly puts the ring on, she runs back to the alley where Paul is looking for the cat. When Holly finds him, she holds him in her coat and smiles as she walks into Paul’s embrace.
Production
After Paramount producers Martin Jurow and Richard Shepherd obtained the film rights to Truman Capote's novella, they hired Sumner Locke Elliott to write the screenplay. Although the screenplay was mostly similar to the book, Jurow and Shepherd were not satisfied and replaced Elliott with George Axelrod. Axelrod, who had previously changed the structure of a story while adapting The Seven Year Itch (1955), worked with Jurow and Shepherd to make changes to Capote's novella. These changes included altering the plot and tone to make it a romantic comedy, replacing the unnamed gay narrator with a named, heterosexual male love interest, adding new characters, and reducing the gay subtext.
Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly, believing she best fit the character. Axelrod was required to adjust the screenplay to accommodate Monroe. Monroe refused the role, choosing instead to star in The Misfits (1961), after theatre director Lee Strasberg advised her that playing a "lady of the evening" would harm her image. The role was then offered to Shirley MacLaine, who declined to take it in favor of Two Loves (1961), and Kim Novak also turned it down.
Capote was upset with the studio's final decision, saying, "Paramount double-crossed me in every way and cast Audrey." Audrey Hepburn was hesitant to play the role, explaining she found it difficult to portray an extroverted character. Steve McQueen was offered the role of Paul Varjak but refused because he was under contract with United Artists. Jack Lemmon was also considered but was unavailable. Robert Wagner was another possibility. Eventually, George Peppard was chosen, even though he had appeared the previous year in the unsuccessful film The Subterraneans.
The film's original director, John Frankenheimer, worked with Axelrod for three months before being replaced by Edwards after Hepburn's agent requested a more well-known director. Edwards supported Axelrod's changes to the novella, stating they were made to please the audience.
Filming began on Fifth Avenue outside the Tiffany & Co. flagship store on October 2, 1960. Most of the exterior scenes were filmed in New York City, and all interior scenes, except those set inside Tiffany & Co., were filmed on the Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood.
According to one report, the film's opening scene outside Tiffany & Co. was very hard to film due to problems with crowd control, Hepburn's dislike of pastries, and an accident that nearly electrocuted a crew member. Another report said the scene was filmed quickly because of a sudden drop in city traffic.
Capote later said it took time for him to understand Holly Golightly's character. He wrote the song "Moon River" in half an hour after having a drink. The song was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer and adjusted to fit Hepburn's limited vocal range. Its placement in the film was inspired by songs Hepburn performed in Funny Face (1957). After a test screening in San Francisco, Martin Rankin, Paramount's head of production, wanted "Moon River" replaced with music sung by someone else. Jurow and Shepherd refused to replace the song, a decision attributed to Hepburn in another account.
According to Time, Mancini's composition of "Moon River" includes a walking bass line, choral and string variations, and jazz elements. The song is introduced by a harmonica, repeated by strings, hummed by the chorus, and resolved with the harmonica. The film's soundtrack was composed and conducted by Mancini, with several unreleased musical pieces included in deleted scenes. In 2013, Intrada Records released the complete score in its original film performance, as the album released with the film was a re-recording.
Release
Breakfast at Tiffany's was released in movie theaters by Paramount Pictures on October 5, 1961.
The film became available on VHS in 1989 and on DVD in 2001. It was one of the first movies featuring Audrey Hepburn to be released on home video. On February 7, 2006, a special 45th anniversary edition of the DVD was released in North America. This version included new content not found in earlier releases, such as a photo gallery, the film’s original theatrical trailer, a history of Tiffany & Co., audio commentary by actor George C. Scott, a behind-the-scenes feature with interviews from director Blake Edwards and actor Mickey Rooney, and a tribute to Audrey Hepburn. This tribute included a letter Hepburn wrote to Tiffany & Co. for their 150th anniversary in 1987.
On January 13, 2009, a remastered version of the film called the Centennial Collection was released on DVD. This edition added new content, including interviews with the cast, a documentary about the controversy surrounding Rooney’s portrayal of the character I.Y. Yunioshi, an interactive tour of the Paramount Studios lot where the film was made, and a tribute to composer Henry Mancini. On June 29, 2011, the film was digitally restored in high-definition and released on Blu-ray to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Reception
Breakfast at Tiffany's was a successful movie, earning $14 million with a budget of $2.5 million. Before it was released in theaters, the film was shown at Radio City Music Hall. Variety described it as a strong contender for box office success.
On the website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 100 critics gave positive reviews. The site’s summary stated, “The film has some outdated elements, but Blake Edwards is at his funniest in this classic, and Audrey Hepburn shines brightly on screen.” Metacritic, which calculates scores using a weighted average, gave the film a score of 77 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.
Time magazine noted that Hepburn’s portrayal of the character was similar to the one in Truman Capote’s novella. It also mentioned that the film’s ending differed from Capote’s work. Hepburn’s performance was highly praised, with many considering it one of her most memorable roles. Years later, Time writer Richard Corliss said the film helped shape Hepburn’s career in Hollywood and influenced her future roles.
Tinee Mae of the Chicago Tribune wrote that Hepburn made the complex and unpredictable character both charming and silly. Mae also praised the screenplay and supporting actors, including Peppard, Ebsen, Balsam, and Rooney. Henry T. Murdock of The Philadelphia Inquirer called the film a “gem” and highlighted Hepburn’s energetic and spontaneous performance. He noted that Ebsen’s role helped revive his career, leading to his famous role as Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).
A.H. Weiler of The New York Times described the film as a “captivating mix of comedy, romance, and poignancy,” with Hepburn’s performance being “charming and believable.” He also praised Peppard, Balsam, Rooney, Neal, and Ebsen. Truman Capote disliked the film and Hepburn’s portrayal, as they differed from his novella. His biographer, Gerald Clarke, called the film a “celebration of independent women” rather than a “cautionary tale.” Capote later referred to the film as a “sweet and colorful work.”
The film was ranked No. 61 in the American Film Institute’s list of “100 Years… 100 Passions” and “Moon River” was ranked No. 4 in “100 Years… 100 Songs.” It also appeared at No. 486 on Empire’s list of “The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.”
Influence
Audrey Hepburn's image, with her hair in a high ponytail and holding a large cigarette holder, is one of the most famous pictures from 20th century American movies. The sunglasses she wore, also a well-known item, were created in London by Oliver Goldsmith. In 2011, these sunglasses were sold again to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. One of three dresses designed by Givenchy for Hepburn in the film was sold at an auction by Christie's on December 5, 2006, for £467,200 (~US$947,000), which was seven times the minimum price expected.
The black Givenchy dress worn by Hepburn is considered one of the most famous clothing items of the twentieth century. Glamour magazine called it the most well-known little black dress ever made. A second little black dress by Givenchy, paired with a wide-brimmed hat, inspired the design of Catwoman in a comic book by artist Adam Hughes. This design later influenced the costume for the character in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
A diamond necklace from Tiffany's, which Hepburn's character disliked for being too showy, was the Tiffany Yellow Diamond. Hepburn wore this necklace in publicity photos for the film. The popularity of the film helped increase Tiffany & Co.'s reputation as a top luxury brand.
Controversy
Since the 1990s, Rooney’s portrayal of I. Y. Yunioshi in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s has been criticized as an exaggerated and stereotypical depiction of a Japanese man. In the 1993 film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, which tells the life of Bruce Lee, the scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s was used as an example of how Hollywood sometimes portrayed East Asians in a racist way. It was reported that Bruce Lee and his wife, Linda Lee Cadwell, left the theater during a screening of the film after seeing Rooney’s performance.
Promotional materials for Breakfast at Tiffany’s released between October and December 1960 did not mention Rooney as the actor for Yunioshi. Instead, press releases claimed that a Japanese comedian named “Ohayo Arigatou” (which means “hello” and “thank you” in Japanese) would play the role. Other press releases included fake quotes written in broken English, supposedly from the fictional comedian. Later, Rooney confirmed his role in the film while wearing the makeup and prosthetic mouthpiece seen in the movie.
The film’s director, Blake Edwards, faced criticism for casting Rooney. Another director, Richard Shepherd, said he wanted to replace Rooney with a Japanese actor to play Yunioshi, but Edwards refused. Shepherd later apologized for Rooney’s casting, saying he wished the role had been played by someone else. While the writer, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, expanded Yunioshi’s role in the screenplay compared to the original story, Edwards wanted the character to be funny and chose Rooney, who was once his roommate. Mankiewicz disagreed with Edwards about how to use Yunioshi in the film and tried to convince Audrey Hepburn to reshoot scenes so that Yunioshi’s parts could be removed, but Edwards refused. Edwards later said he regretted casting Rooney and wished he had made a different choice.
In a 2008 interview, Rooney said he was “heartbroken” by the criticism. He explained that Edwards chose him because he was a comedy director, and they had fun making the film. Rooney claimed he never received complaints about his performance after the film was released and said people around the world praised his acting. He also stated he would not have taken the role if he believed it was offensive.
The film still faces criticism for its portrayal of Yunioshi. Film historian Robert Osborne called the character “a racial slur” and blamed Edwards for the offensive depiction. In 2011, a group of Asian-American viewers opposed a special screening of the film by SyFy and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation because of the character’s portrayal.
Adaptations
In 2004, a musical version of the movie began at The Muny in St. Louis. In May 2009, Anna Friel performed in a stage version of the movie in London. The show opened at the Haymarket Theatre in September 2009. In March 2013, a new stage version of the movie began at the Cort Theater in New York City. Emilia Clarke was in the show.