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209 reviews for:
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman
Sam Wasson
3.64 AVERAGE
209 reviews for:
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman
Sam Wasson
3.64 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this? I don't have any particular interest in Audrey Hepburn or Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I really liked how Wasson sets up and conveys the way that Hollywood operated during this period. From rights acquisition to script development to the messiness of managing personalities on set, this was a pretty fascinating and entertaining little case study.
Very interesting read on the process of making a great movie. Nothing earth-shattering, but I liked the gyrating dance taken by the producers between Truman Capote's book (unfilmable, by most people's standards), and the pleasing, chaste romantic comedies that Hollywood churned out like a factory. I came away with 3 thoughts; 1. Audrey Hepburn is probably one of the nicest actors ever, 2. Mel Ferrer is an asshole, 3. I need to read more Capote. ( or any Capote, to tell the truth)
Like countless others my first major adult movie star crush was Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. The exact memory of the first time viewing Breakfast at Tiffany’s has become completely muddled with all of the times I watched the movie in my early 20s – my only clear recollection now is watching in a love-smitten stupor those opening minutes when Golightly emerges from a taxi onto an empty pre-dawn 5th avenue.
I loved the book's details of making the movie (how cold it was for Hepburn doing that early morning shot, the clearly racist Rooney portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi – and how neither the actor nor the director could understand what the fuss was about, shooting the “party” scene that Capote absolutely loathed) – but I disliked, in equal amounts, the author’s stretch to make this movie into the major catalyst that sparked the sexual revolution, major fashion changes and a new era in film. Was it a part of those changes? Sure, I’m willing to give Wasson that point. I’m just not ready to believe that this film was the landmark that changed everything for women’s liberation.
I loved the book's details of making the movie (how cold it was for Hepburn doing that early morning shot, the clearly racist Rooney portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi – and how neither the actor nor the director could understand what the fuss was about, shooting the “party” scene that Capote absolutely loathed) – but I disliked, in equal amounts, the author’s stretch to make this movie into the major catalyst that sparked the sexual revolution, major fashion changes and a new era in film. Was it a part of those changes? Sure, I’m willing to give Wasson that point. I’m just not ready to believe that this film was the landmark that changed everything for women’s liberation.
this was a really interesting look at the making of the movie; the story behind how the book was written, how the director and actors were chosen, and of course how audrey helped define the image of the modern woman. it just wasn't terribly well written; a bit scattered, jumping from story to story. but it was a quick read, and informative. now i want to go rewatch the movie and read the book.
A great, easy to read overview of the making of one of my favorite movies of all time.
I loved reading the little behind the scenes information about the people and process in making Breakfast at Tiffany's and what it meant for the changing scene of post-war women, but this book felt disjointed at times, jumping from one person to another and adding in people that I wasn't entirely sure where they fit in the picture and what they meant for the process. Overall it was a good book, but confusing at times with a jumpy timeline and large cast of characters.
A strange mix of gossip and an analysis of a particular social strata allows a glimpse into the lives of the “influencers” of the romantic comedy and the changes within the genre at the time.
A quick, fluffy read about one of my favorite movies. I was expecting a bit more depth about how this movie signaled the "dawn of the modern woman" He made his point, but a little something that uses some resources besides the obvious (Betty Friedan and other movies) would have make it better.
And though this is minor, it was nonetheless annoying: subheads. Lots and lots of subheads. Sometimes there would be a paragraph and then another subhead. Learn to write a transition sentence!
And though this is minor, it was nonetheless annoying: subheads. Lots and lots of subheads. Sometimes there would be a paragraph and then another subhead. Learn to write a transition sentence!
This book was slow, but gave good insights on Audrey Hepburn and the making of breakfast at Tiffany's