Quantcast

Breakfast at Tiffany's Turns 50

breakfasttiffanys.jpg

Breakfast at Tiffany's, the novel by Truman Capote, is turning 50 (in just 3 years, the film will do the same). USA Today takes a look at the classic, which The New Yorker called "empty nostalgia" at the time (Capote wrote a letter to the publication saying he was "hurt and dismayed" by the criticism). The story however, whether on paper or celluloid, has stood the test of time and remains a favorite amongst many...in fact, just a couple of years ago the iconic Givenchy black dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie sold for $807,000 (how much will Carrie Bradshaw garb go for in 50 years?).

Vintage's managing editor (who are releasing an anniversary edition) told the paper, "I recently reread the novel and was struck by how easily I was able to identify with the time and the place and the characters, with New York as Capote describes it. And how kids, young adults, newcomers relate to the city, and we all hope always will. We all know people like Holly Golightly." With walking tours and droves of tourists stopping by the iconic Tiffany & Co. sign on 5th Avenue to have their photo taken, the words of Golightly may not ring as true since its big screen debut: "It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it. Nothing very bad could happen to you there, not with those kind men in their nice suits, and that lovely smell of silver and alligator wallets."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • robingee

    Audrey hated Danishes.

  • NannyState

    She had breakfast at Schrafft's. Enough of this pretense.

  • babyhitler

    so was hannibal gay? I mean george peppard.

  • fakenewyorker

    whoa, they made a movie out of the song?

  • RedWhiteandBrooklyn

    A terrific book... one of the few "great American novels" (along with The Great Gatsby), but the film is a shining example of how Hollywood can't help but to take a work of art and turn it into dreck! The entire gang that rewrote this book and put it onto film should be shot. If you only know the film, read the book and see why "Breakfast at Tifany's" became a best seller and remains a classic 50 years later.

  • zodak

    she said i think i remember the film,

    & as i recall, i think, we both kinda liked it

    & i said, well, that's the one thing we've got

  • JacqueMehoff

    mickey rooney didn't know what he was, chinese, japanese, dirty knees, kimono dragon, sushi chef or zen master.

  • sinisterteashop

    Paging Sarah Palin... Audrey wants her damn coiffure back.

  • Novanglus

    I don't knwo much about the book or the movie, but if Truman Capote is about to turn 50, and the movie is going to do the same, does that mena Capote wrote the book and it became a movie before he was 3?

  • r1b2

    Ahh, Mickey Rooney and his whimsical Asian rendition. Racism, always a crowd-pleaser.

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com