Breakfast
at Tiffany's
|
Book
| Movie
| Discussion
questions
|
Book:
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Movie:
Breakfast at Tiffany's was nominated for five academy awards in 1962. It's
Oscar-winning score, with songs like Moon River, was by Henry Mancini.
John Frankenheimer was originally hired to shoot the film with Marilyn Monroe.
The book's author Truman Capote had created the character with her in mind. When
Audrey Hepburn replaced Monroe, she insisted that the
director be replaced because she had never heard of him!
Capote later expressed extreme displeasure with this casting, especially with
the choices of Audrey Hepburn and Mickey Rooney
for their roles, and the author was even less pleased with the director, Blake Edwards. A few years before his
death, Capote remarked that he hoped for a remake starring Jody Foster as Holly.
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Discussion
questions:
1. Why do you think Truman Capote has called his story "Breakfast at Tiffany's"?
Does the reference to Tiffany's say something about the story and characters?
2. What would you say is the mood in the book? Positive and light-hearted or
negative and dark? How is the mood in the movie?
3. The cat has a prominent role in Holly's life, although
she refuses to give it a real name. Taking this in
consideration, do you think the cat (the use of the
cat in the book by Capote) is a symbol? If yes, for
what or whom?
4. "Although Capote reportedly envisioned Marilyn Monroe as Holly, the
role was played by Audrey Hepburn".
What does Capote's choice for Marilyn say about his vision of Holly's
character in the book? How do you think this
"change" in actresses has influenced the story and movie?
5. This is what Audrey Hepburn herself said about the role of Holly:
"I was nothing like her, but I felt I could 'act' Holly. I knew the
part would be a challenge, but I wanted it anyway. I always wonder if
I risked enough on that one. I should have been a little more
outrageous. But at the time, as a new mother, I was about as wild as
I could be. If only I were a Method player, huh? But the fact is, I
didn't really believe in The Method. I believed in good casting. And
I'm still not sure about Holly and me..." -Audrey Hepburn
Did Hepburn convince you in her role? Would you have liked to see
another actress in the role of Holly? Who would that be?
6. Capote was upset with the changes Paramount made in the screen
version of his novel, especially with the ending. This totally
changes the theme of the story, he thought.
Do you agree with Capote? Why/why not? What do you think is the theme
of the story Capote is speaking of?
7.
How does the relationship between Holly and the narrator
"Fred"/Buster evolve throughout the story?
What is the narrator's first impression
about Holly? What about the other way around?
Does this impression change as the story progresses?
Is there a difference in the development of the relationship between
the book and the movie?
Do
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