The Breakfast at Tiffany's Companion

by Sarah Gristwood

Holly Golightly was undoubtedly the role that made Audrey Hepburn a movie icon. Dressed by Hubert de Givenchy and holding the infamous cigarette holder, she played her most memorable part in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Adapted from the Truman Capote novella of the same name, the inspired cast took the screenplay and fashioned it into the touching comedy of a young woman finding her way in the world. 2011 is the 50th anniversary of the release of Breakfast at Tiffany's and this lavish book pays tribute to its ongoing popularity. The only official companion to be published in association with Paramount Pictures and the Audrey Hepburn estate, it includes favourite images from the film as well as unpublished behind the scenes footage from the Paramount archives, stories from the set, and a history of the screenplay since the hugely popular film. A celebration of a timeless classic, this is the perfect book for any fan of Hepburn or 1960s film-making.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Fashion, Photography, Art

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Sarah Gristwood attended Oxford and then worked as a journalist specializing in the arts and women's issues. She has contributed to The Times, Guardian, Independent, and Evening Standard.

Reviews

[Anthony McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

MORE THAN JUST A FAN BOOK.
This 50th. Anniversary Companion to the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a first-rate collection of material relating to this iconic film. Excellent on-location photos and film stills, most full-page, many in color, plus a marvellous coverage of the film making process from pre-production to post-release.
All aspects, from Truman Capote's preference for Marilyn Monroe in the lead, to the many script development problems, to Mickey Rooney's miscasting, to Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini and 'Moon River' to censorship of Holly's true profession, to the success of an "old-fashioned" type of movie succeeding in the dramatic changing times of the 60's are all nicely covered by author Sarah Gristwood. Highly recommended.

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Perhaps that's the point about the Holly Golightlys of this world. They elude and confront and inspire and frustrate, and yet they are always lovable. It is a movie like they don't make anymore. But it is also a character that will stay fresh and real for as long as there are movies."
A book about my favorite movie and favorite actrees of all time enriched by beautiful illustrations - what more could a girl wish for?

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, short account of the making of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, accompanied by many illustrations. The author seems to have only done a few new interviews, but brings together a full story of the production, which is deeply flawed, but has an affecting story at the core, and great performances by Audrey Hepburn and Buddy Ebsen.

[Valentina Cavo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colazione da Tiffany è un romanzo breve e non credo abbia bisogno di molte presentazioni soprattutto per via dell'omonimo film che vede nei panni di Holiday Golightly, la nostra protagonista, l'incantevole Audrey Hepburn.

Holiday Golightly, per gli amici Holly, è una giovane donna sempre in transito. Non trova mai pace in nessun posto e non ha dei legami così stretti da poterla fermare per sempre in luogo. È affascinante, quasi magnetica e chiunque si innamora di lei, anche solo a livello platonico.

La narrazione inizia con Paul Varjak (uno scrittore ex vicino della signorina Golightly) che, passando dal bar di Joe Bell, scopre che quest'ultimo ha notizie della bella Holly... Dopo anni di silenzio, viene infatti ritrovata in Africa una statuetta che raffigura proprio la donna! Da qui Paul, facendosi trascinare dai ricordi, ci racconta come ha incontrato la deliziosa vicina.

Il bello di questo romanzo è che la protagonista in realtà è una assenza nella vita di Paul. Holly viene infatti solo raccontata tramite il flashback dello scrittore. Ed è una personalità interessante sempre in mezzo ad affari poco puliti malgrado lei li minimizzi sempre. Per esempio ogni settimana va a Sing Sing a trovare un detenuto di nome Sally Tomato al quale riferisce strani bollettini metereologici....
È senza dubbio una donna che se la sa cavare benissimo da sola ma che è anche molto instabile proprio perché non riesce a trovare un suo posto nel mondo se non passeggiare davanti a Tiffany per calmare i nervi o trovare di nuovo la giusta energia.

Colazione da Tiffany è sicurente un grande esercizio di stile che ci ha regalato Truman Capote e che ha un finale a sorpresa che si distacca molto da quello del film.
Indubbiamente lo consiglio anche solo per approcciarsi a questo autore e per capire il suo modo di scrivere e raccontare una storia che sarà sempre indimenticabile.

[DJ]

This GEM of a book about my Favourite film ever was given to me by my Darling of a Husband for St. Valentines Day (February 14th 2011) and I also got to go and see the film at my Beloved G.F.T!!!!
A pretty perfect Valentines Day I would say..........

[Carolyn]

In 2006, the black dress in which Hepburn opens the film was donated by Givenchy. It sold for $923,000 at Christie's, the money going to City of Joy, a charity set up to help the poorest inhabitants of India.

[Tiffany]

Entertaining and informative look behind the scenes at one of my all-time favourite movies. Great photos.

[Heather]

My mother always called me Holly Go Lightly :)

[Liv]

Informative. Fun.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was well organized, written and illustrated. The sections made sense, particularly the one about the score and the afterlife. Many wonderful photos, beautifully printed.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite movie of all time and I bought this book a loooong time ago and finally got around to finishing it. It's SO good for anyone who loves the movie, and makes a beautiful gift. I loved the insider information on the actors, the screenplay, the music, and how the shooting went in NY. Nothing about this movie seems to age and neither does this book. I especially loved the info. on Capote and his thoughts on the movie, and how the song Moon River came to be.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quotable:

Phoebe Pierce Vreeland described Nina [mother of Truman Capote] to Herald Clarke as a woman of two sides, the light and the dark, with the latter unleashed by alcohol. "The clue that she had been drinking too much was a kind of ominous, razor-edged gaiety," she said.

In some ways, perhaps, Capote was himself the best inspiration for Holly. Where she had "the mean reds," he had panic attacks, and a final descent into drugs, alcohol, and ill-health he described as a "hard black rain."

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this after all this time. My favorite movie growing up as it is for anyone who loves the glam of NYC and Tiffany’s !

It was a gift from my dad, it wasn’t what I had asked for, but after finally reading it 9 years later, it’s what I asked for. Thanks Dad. Miss you always

[Giorgio Simoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei miei libri preferiti, dei miei autori preferiti

[Evelyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desayuno en Tiffany´s 4 estrellas
Una casa de flores 3 estrellas
Una guitarra de diamantes 3 estrellas
Un recuerdo navideño 5 estrellas

[Marías ElGato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das große Meisterwerk von TRUMAN CAPOTE. Sehr schön zu lesen. Bezaubernd.

[Assunta Benimeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il libro è oscurato dall’avere troppo amato il film.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this as well in a secondhand bookshop, had to take her home with me and I absolutely adore the photos and her story.

[Pimchanok C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is a party and wandering.

[Camila Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que libro tan increíble, lo disfrute mucho y me encantaron las frases y los personajes. Un libro que te puedes llevar a un viaje corto y terminar con gusto como yo lo hice.