DVD Review Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Centennial Collection – 2-Disc
Directed by: Blake Edwards Cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, Buddy Ebsen Running Time: 1 hr. 55 mins Rating: Not Rated Due out: 1/13/2009
Plot: Based on Truman Capote’s book, Holly Golightly (Hepburn) is a New York socialite who is getting by on her charm and looks. Along comes Paul (Peppard) as a struggling writer. Her goal is to marry a millionaire, his is to get back to writing, but Holly is pretty easy to fall for.
Who's It For? The easy answer is that this one is for the girls. But pretty much everyone should sit through this film at least once.
Movie: Holly is a brilliantly damaged character, especially since it was written over 40 years ago. And it’s great to see Peppard in a non-“A-Team” role. The friendship/romance between Holly and Paul “Frank” always keeps us hoping, but there are also two nice twists. The first is Paul’s side income, and the second is Doc (Ebsen) showing up. It’s really the dialogue that is just outstanding. “Do you think she’s talented? Deeply and importantly talented?” and “It should take you four seconds to get from here to that door. I’ll give you two.” Both are classic, iconic lines that stand the test of time.
Movie Score: 8
EXTRAS
Commentary by Producer Richard Shepherd: Producer Richard Shepherd lends time for the commentary track. But for most of us, that’s not going to have much of an impact.
A Golightly Gathering: It’s an odd re-gathering of extras who were in the original cocktail scene. The bottom line is, this party is nothing like the original.
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective: This is the most interesting extra, because it dives into the outrageous, over-the-top performance by Rooney. Asian actors speak as to what it meant to them at the time.
The Making of a Classic: This gives you all the necessary backstory including Hepburn coming aboard to the film, and an interview from Black Edwards, which includes the Mr. Yunioshi regret.
Audrey’s Letter to Tiffany: You get to see/hear Hepburn’s letter to Tiffany. This is what icons do I guess.
The other extras: Henry Macini: More Than Music It’s So Audrey: A Style Icon Behind the Gates: The Tour Brilliance in a Blue Box Original Theatrical Trailer
Extras Score: 7
OVERALL
There is not one extra that stands equal to this film, and it feels like a hint of repackaging, but this disc comes down to the moments of the movie ... like the cocktail party or your thoughts on Cat (the nameless cat). And yes, “Moon River” is something that gets stuck in your head when you watch, and Rooney could be playing the most racist stereotype film has ever seen, but those things need to be overlooked. And luckily the extras actually take time to apologize for Mr. Yunioshi. Guys, it would be tough not to make the lady happy bringing home this film.
Final Score: 8