What's new

Breakfast At Tiffany's Anniversary Edition (1 Viewer)

Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
1,023
Location
London
Real Name
Anthony
According to davisdvd.com Paramount are releasing an anniversary edition of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S on February 7th 2006. No details as of yet but it's expected to retail at $19.99.
 

Mark VH

Second Unit
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
423
Good to hear, but I'd much prefer spruced-up editions of Audrey's other Paramount films like Sabrina and Funny Face. Breakfast is good enough, but I much prefer both of these other films, and Funny Face in particular could really use a cleaned-up transfer (not to mention some decent extras).
 

Charles Ellis

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2002
Messages
2,098
Mark, what you don't realize that those other Paramount Audrey Hepburn films have extras, but Breakfast doesn't have any in its current release. And that's the reason I have never bought the DVD- I have been hoping for a Special Edition, and at long last my dream has come true!!! I cannot begin to tell you what this film means to me, and let's face it- it is Audrey's signature film. And just in time for the 45th anniversary of the original release, too! Good things do come to those who wait!
 
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
1,023
Location
London
Real Name
Anthony
Don't get your hopes up too high, Charles. It is Paramount after all, so it's unlikely to be fully loaded - couple of short featurettes and maybe a commentary by Blake Edwards, IF we're lucky. Think what Warner Brothers would do with it !

But I agree - long overdue.
 

Mark B

Screenwriter
Joined
Sep 27, 2003
Messages
1,070
Location
Saranac Lake, NY
Real Name
Mark


FUNNY FACE is especially in need of a better DVD. The last one is shamefully bad. The darkroom dance is so dark you can't see what's going on, and if you watch closely there are a couple of strange dissolves that change proportions mid-stream. Please, Paramount, go back to the VistaVision negs and get this one right.

I've not picked up BREAKFAST, and a nice edition would be welcome.
 

rutger_s

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
878

Some evidence to the contrary...

Forrest Gump, Hondo, The High and the Mighty, Top Gun, Once Upon A Time in The West, and Tommy Boy

Coming soon is a two disc set for Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Not only that but Paramount has surprised consumers with some unexpected special editions like...

Danger: Diabolik, Clueless, The Warriors, Testament, and Lady Sings The Blues
 
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
1,023
Location
London
Real Name
Anthony
Fair enough. I'm not saying it's impossible - just that I'm more often a bit disappointed by Paramount releases. They certainly don't go all-out like WB. That said, I pulled this listing from a retail site :

Audrey Hepburn is ever-engaging as Truman Capote's vivacious yet vulnerable heroine, Holly Golightly, "a real phony" who's tossed between hobnobbing amongst New York's party set and settling down with her new love, neighbor George Peppard. Co-stars Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam and Mickey Rooney; directed by Blake Edwards. Henry Mancini's score includes the Oscar-winning "Moon River." 114 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; more.

So it's not looking too bad. Fingers crossed.
 

Mark VH

Second Unit
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
423


If that's indeed the case, then it's a shame. I like Breakfast well enough, but I really feel that she made much better films - the aforementioned Sabrina and Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, My Fair Lady and Roman Holiday (already out in a splendid Paramount DVD) among them. Hell, I know Charade is no great shakes, but I still prefer it.
 

Dale MA

Screenwriter
Joined
May 22, 2004
Messages
1,092
Location
England
Real Name
Dale
I'm not quite sure what you mean by that Mark, Charade's a great film.

I very nearly bought the old version of Breakfast at Tiffany's the other day, thankfully I held off!
 

Charles Ellis

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2002
Messages
2,098
Mark, obviously you are in the minority. After all, Holly Golightly is the role most people remember her for- lots of ladies still copy her look from the film with the "little black dress", and millions have either sung, played, or danced to "Moon River". Does anyone remember lines from Love In The Afternoon, Roman Holiday, or Sabrina as much as people still quote lines from Breakfast At Tiffanys? Don't be a super-rat, just accept the fact that it is her most beloved film and the news of the upcoming SE will draw quite the response by the public, despite your reservations.
 

Rob_Ray

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2004
Messages
2,141
Location
Southern California
Real Name
Rob Ray
To me "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is the quintessential Audrey Hepburn film only for the fact that it encapsulates that early 60s Hepburn Givenchy look which became iconic for her the way Marilyn's dress in "The Seven Year Itch" became iconic for her. But as with Marilyn and "The Seven Year Itch" it's far from being Hepburn's best film.

And, yes, "Charade" is a terrific film!
 

DanFe

Second Unit
Joined
Sep 15, 2003
Messages
421
Breakfast is hardly Audrey's signature film--that goes to Roman Holiday. She was good in Breakfast, she was great in Roman Holiday.
 

Citizen87645

Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
13,056
Real Name
Cameron Yee
I'd have to disagree if you're talking about "signature." When most people think of Hepburn the person they think of Breakfast because of the (Givenchy) style of the Golightly character. That said, Roman Holiday is definitely my favorite Hepburn film, despite the fact she is wearing those shabby Edith Head togs. :)
 

Garysb

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
5,861
Sad to think that Patricia Neal is the only actor with a major part in this film that is still alive. The director , Blake Edwards, is still with us. Hopefully he is able and willing to participate on the DVD.
 

Mark VH

Second Unit
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
423


I'm a super-rat just because I believe it's miles from being her best film? Whatever...

Actually, if "most beloved" means best-liked by the largest amount of people, I'd venture that My Fair Lady has it beat by a sizeable margin.

And who's to say I'm in a minority? Sure, everyone remembers how she looked in the film, but does anyone actually remember the performance or film itself? The dreadful overacting of the "George!!!..." (or whatever the brother's name was) scene, the offensive Mickey Rooney Chinese-neighbor characterization or the stiff-as-a-board-as-usual George Peppard? All anyone cares to remember, as near as I can tell, is that it was a movie about a flighty chick who liked parties, jewelry and chic outfits, and that "Moon River," Hannibal from the A-Team and an orange cat all figured in somehow.

Listen, I'm a big Audrey fan, and I find Breakfast to be very watchable, but it ain't great (Blake Edwards did much, much better stuff). If we're talking "signature" in terms of the signature Audrey look, then I'll give it to you. But if "signature" means to you - as it does me - best, then I think this particular film is way down on the chain.
 

dpippel

Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems
Supporter
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2000
Messages
12,292
Location
Sonora Norte
Real Name
Doug
I'm amongst the Breakfast at Tiffany's lovers here I guess. While I really do like Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady, I'm not a really big fan of Love in the Afternoon or Sabrina. Both of the later films suffer greatly (IMO of course) from miscasting. Humphrey Bogart in particular is completely clunky in his Sabrina role and much too old to be a believable love interest for Hepburn. Gary Cooper suffers from the same age problem in Love in the Afternoon.

For me, Hepburn is at her most vulnerable and tragic best in Tiffany's, and George Peppard is just right in his role. Yeah Mickey Rooney's character is a goofy and distasteful distraction, but Hepburn, Peppard, and Patricia Neal more than make up for it. I'd love to see an improved transfer and some great extras on the Anniversary Edition.
 

Shawn Cornwell

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
73
If we're talking "best" in terms of performance, I'll throw in "The Nun's Story" as possibly containing Hepburn's best dramatic acting- for romantic comedy, I don't think she really topped her Oscared work in "Holiday." As far as best movie- that's tough. Being sent to a desert island with only one Hepburn film, I'd have a hard time choosing among "Holiday", "Story", or "Charade".

"Tiffany's" was a key film in Hepburn's career, and it's certainly a top romantic comedy of its era, but I agree a lot of the fame surrounding the film has to do with Hepburn's chic, memorable "look" in the film, accompanied by Mancini's beautiful score (I do think Hepburn has her best "star" entrance in a film when, at the beginning of "Tiffany's", she performs the movie title's task while "Moon River" plays on the soundtrack).

It's a tribute to Hepburn's impressive cinematic accomplishments that she really has more than one one "signature" film in her career, depending on what time period you're looking at. I think "Holiday," "Funny Face", "Nun's Story", "Tiffany's", "Charade", and "My Fair Lady" could all be labeled "signature" Hepburn films.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,808
Messages
5,123,523
Members
144,184
Latest member
H-508
Recent bookmarks
0
Top