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A review by theresidentbookworm
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
5.0
Let me just start be saying I absolutely adore Audrey Hepburn. I think she was just the classiest, most elegant movie star of her time and definitely more beautiful than anyone else back then. Though some would argue against this, I think there's something charming about Audrey that many actresses didn't have, a sweetness. When you watch Audrey Hepburn onscreen, it's so easy to relate to her and like her. She doesn't play a ditz per say, just quirky characters who live in their own little world. Her characters are smart and pretty and a little bit broken. Still, somehow you fall in love with her. It's the quality that makes Holly Golightly so wonderful.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is my favorite Hepburn movie, and I learned so much about it from Fifth Avenue. I can't even picture Marilyn Monroe as Holly. Then again, Breakfast at Tiffany's the movie and Breakfast at Tiffany's the book are two separate creatures, and I'm not sure which one is better. Capote's Holly is more wild, more desperate, and a bit more broken. There is no true happy ending for Capote's Holly. Axelrod's Holly, however, is not traditional but not completely unlikeable. Axelrod's Holly is wild without having her audience hate her. She is wonderfully broken and complicated, and Paul is the perfect companion for them. Their love isn't easy at first, but there is a happy ending for them by the closing credits. Does this demean Holly? I say no. Paul did say, "I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!" I think Holly can be in love without a cage.
Several other things interested me. The shooting of the party scene definitely changed movies, and I think that scene is just so funny, especially when that lady's hat is on fire. I can't believe they wanted to cut Moon River! I can't imagine Breakfast at Tiffany's without it. I also think it was a great idea to go to Givenchy for the costumes instead of Edith Head because I don't really think she appreciated the allure of Audrey Hepburn. Head try to hide Audrey's supposed awkwardness in previous costumes. In Tiffany's, however, Audrey shines in everything she wears. This was one of the first movies where normal woman could really dress like the star. Holly, though always elegant, wears simple black dresses and long-sleeved shirts with slacks. Before Tiffany', be able to dress like the stars wasn't possible, and costume designers didn't try to make it possible.
I'd totally recommend! This book is filled with little snippets and gems. It's written more like a novel than history and is extremely enjoyable.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is my favorite Hepburn movie, and I learned so much about it from Fifth Avenue. I can't even picture Marilyn Monroe as Holly. Then again, Breakfast at Tiffany's the movie and Breakfast at Tiffany's the book are two separate creatures, and I'm not sure which one is better. Capote's Holly is more wild, more desperate, and a bit more broken. There is no true happy ending for Capote's Holly. Axelrod's Holly, however, is not traditional but not completely unlikeable. Axelrod's Holly is wild without having her audience hate her. She is wonderfully broken and complicated, and Paul is the perfect companion for them. Their love isn't easy at first, but there is a happy ending for them by the closing credits. Does this demean Holly? I say no. Paul did say, "I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!" I think Holly can be in love without a cage.
Several other things interested me. The shooting of the party scene definitely changed movies, and I think that scene is just so funny, especially when that lady's hat is on fire. I can't believe they wanted to cut Moon River! I can't imagine Breakfast at Tiffany's without it. I also think it was a great idea to go to Givenchy for the costumes instead of Edith Head because I don't really think she appreciated the allure of Audrey Hepburn. Head try to hide Audrey's supposed awkwardness in previous costumes. In Tiffany's, however, Audrey shines in everything she wears. This was one of the first movies where normal woman could really dress like the star. Holly, though always elegant, wears simple black dresses and long-sleeved shirts with slacks. Before Tiffany', be able to dress like the stars wasn't possible, and costume designers didn't try to make it possible.
I'd totally recommend! This book is filled with little snippets and gems. It's written more like a novel than history and is extremely enjoyable.