The Stinking Pause Podcast - chatting about movies since 2013. Some good...some not so good.

Episode 199 - Breakfast At Tiffanys (1961)

"I don't think I've ever drunk champagne before breakfast before. With breakfast on several occasions, but never before."

Few films sparkle quite like Breakfast at Tiffany's. From its opening moments, the 1961 classic wraps you in a world of glamour, wit, and irresistible charm. We first meet the inimitable Holly Golightly, played with dazzling perfection by Audrey Hepburn, as she enjoys a pastry and coffee while gazing into the windows of Tiffany & Co. on a quiet New York morning. Dressed in her iconic black gown, pearls, and oversized sunglasses, she is the very picture of effortless elegance and hopeful dreaming.

Holly is a delightful whirlwind of a woman, a country girl who has completely reinvented herself as a sophisticated, if wonderfully chaotic, Manhattan socialite. She lives in a stylishly sparse apartment with a nameless cat simply called "Cat," throws the most fabulous and crowded parties, and has a charmingly nonchalant view on life. She's on the hunt for a wealthy, older husband to finally settle down with, but her real talent is for living in the moment, chasing away "the mean reds" (her term for anxiety) with a trip to her beloved Tiffany's, where nothing bad can ever happen.

Her life takes a lovely turn when a handsome writer, Paul Varjak (George Peppard), moves into her building. He is intrigued and completely captivated by his eccentric, beautiful neighbor. What follows is not just a romance, but the story of a wonderful, life-changing friendship. They embark on whimsical adventures across the city, from visiting the library to a hilarious and heartwarming trip to a five-and-dime store. Paul sees the real Holly beneath the glamorous surface—a vulnerable, sweet, and slightly lost girl looking for a place to belong.

The film is a visual feast, filled with stunning fashion, gorgeous shots of 1960s New York, and unforgettable scenes. Who could forget Holly perched on her fire escape, strumming "Moon River" on her guitar, her voice filled with a gentle longing? Or the wildly energetic party scene that brings the whole neighborhood to life? It all culminates in a wonderfully romantic finale in the pouring rain, where Holly must finally choose between the life she thinks she wants and the love that has been right in front of her all along.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a cinematic treasure, a joyful and stylish fairytale for grown-ups. It’s a sparkling reminder that true happiness isn’t found in diamonds, but in finding someone who loves you for exactly who you are, crazy cat and all.

 

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Thanks for listening

Scott, Paul, and Charlie