tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post8474491857627453940..comments2024-03-10T10:56:38.185-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: blasphemy! joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-28622972639243310262017-07-07T07:47:03.015-04:002017-07-07T07:47:03.015-04:00Jimbo- You nailed it. "Breakfast at Tiffany&#...Jimbo- You nailed it. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is very much a film of its time. It's almost a period piece now and it belongs more to Audrey Hepburn than to Truman Capote. Given its "classic" status, however, I don't see anyone doing a remake any time soon. But, I agree, one is necessary.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-88139595724193769802017-07-07T02:27:08.594-04:002017-07-07T02:27:08.594-04:00I remember seeing "Breakfast at Tiffany's...I remember seeing "Breakfast at Tiffany's" as a child in the theater and being so totally entranced by it I walked on air all the way home. As an adult I have since seen the movie dozens of times and still adore it though I'd have to say that I'd have to agree it's pretty weak in the rom-com department. The film is firmly rooted in NYC in the early 60's and this sense of place and time combined with Hepburn's persona, and clothes, and Mancini's music, all together weave a superficial sense of nostalgia of more importance to its enduring popularity than any of the various silly plots in the movie. It's an evocation of a gentle world of elegance, sophistication, and adventure that we long to be part of even though it probably never really existed. It has only a passing resemblance to the original source, but that's ok. It has its own story to tell.<br /><br />After reading the novella on which the movie is based I have longed for someone to do an authentic film adaptation of "Breakfast at Tiffany's". The original book was set in the world of the 40's and Holly was "a modern geisha", to use Capote's term, somewhere around the age of 17. The story dealt with an important theme not even hinted at in the film—the ephemeral nature of those young, lost characters who are draw to the big city in search of their dreams only to disappear just as quickly as they appeared once their disillusion sets in. It's an interesting story that has never been told and a theme that would not belong in Hepburn's movie.Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05027786373775510140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-63095239146421023682017-07-06T21:05:10.248-04:002017-07-06T21:05:10.248-04:00Mike- So glad you stepped in here. "The Searc...Mike- So glad you stepped in here. "The Searchers" is an absolutely brilliant film, in many ways non-traditional for a Western, considering its emotional delicacy. One doesn't have to like Westerns to appreciate it. And "Rio Bravo" is simply great, wiley fun. As for Wayne, he's awesome in both. -J joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-69503033096615200202017-07-06T20:08:08.397-04:002017-07-06T20:08:08.397-04:00A question for Sergio: Do you like westerns as a r...A question for Sergio: Do you like westerns as a rule? Because SEARCHERS and RIO BRAVO are such absolute opposites in almost every regard that for someone to hate both seems to indicate they just don't care for the genre itself. Or perhaps it's John Wayne that's the problem?mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-55494820812108975602017-07-06T18:25:22.912-04:002017-07-06T18:25:22.912-04:00I would never expect to agree with anyone on every...I would never expect to agree with anyone on everything, but here's to knocking BaT! How did it get so over-rated?!Qalicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13027751987200391572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-28538440860508132842017-07-04T14:34:18.940-04:002017-07-04T14:34:18.940-04:00FYI. Inspired by Michael O'Sullivan's resp...FYI. Inspired by Michael O'Sullivan's response, I added a phone from the final scene in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-13812744129827741512017-07-04T08:58:27.245-04:002017-07-04T08:58:27.245-04:00On my list of overrated movies? "Casablanca&q...On my list of overrated movies? "Casablanca" and "It's a Wonderful Life." Never liked corny Jimmy Stewart. In its place is the quintessential Christmas - and feminist -- movie- "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." I never care much for Breakfast at Tiffany's either but in my world, Audrey Hepburn can do no wrong. I love her.<br />j.p.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-10819756361790041432017-07-04T08:43:39.144-04:002017-07-04T08:43:39.144-04:00Michael- Many thanks for providing the invaluable ...Michael- Many thanks for providing the invaluable comparisons between book and film. Given that Hollywood continues to produce so many remakes, I keep waiting for one of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and also "Pal Joey," this time done right (read: true to their sources). But for some reason, these two movies in their current form appeal to audiences and, so, no one seems to consider a re-do of either. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-15746453389944891742017-07-04T06:17:52.017-04:002017-07-04T06:17:52.017-04:00Plus of course in Capote's story there is no r...Plus of course in Capote's story there is no romance between the gay (one imagines) narrator and party girl Holly, they are just good friends. Its rather like Isherwood's creation of Sally Bowles - another high-living party girl - and his narrator of the original Berlin stories which became the stage show CABARET and then of course Fosse's film.Michael O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17820802843771524920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-62550729104942879582017-07-04T04:41:28.627-04:002017-07-04T04:41:28.627-04:00I agree too, though I like the start and ending qu...I agree too, though I like the start and ending quite a lot. Totally false to Capote's original though, where Holly does go to South America and the narrator searches for the cat and finally sees him, sitting happily in someone else's apartment window. <br />Joe (Peppard) and Holly are both prostitutes really, and the Patricia Neal character is really meant to be a rich old queen who is keeping Joe - but of course all that could not be put on screen then. But when the heavenly chorus sings "Moon River" as Cat miouws and is squeezed between Holly and Joe in the rain - did any couple ever look better wet ? - one is in movie heaven. The rest of it and the middle sections drag - but what other 1961 movie is screened all the time ?<br />I actually see Kay Kendall in the role of Holly - Audrey knew Kendall when they were both showgirls in early 50s London and seems to be aiming for that zany madcap quality Kendall (who died 2 years before TIFFANYS in 1959) had in movies like LES GIRLS or THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE, or maybe that's just me.<br />Michael O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17820802843771524920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-87500623692718633782017-07-03T12:43:35.935-04:002017-07-03T12:43:35.935-04:00I feel the same about Tiffanys. Muddled plot and H...I feel the same about Tiffanys. Muddled plot and Hepburn is least convincing professional call girl in movie history. And Rooney is just too painful to watch. Even though it was 1960 when they shot I can't believe that they didn't see just how bad and insulting Rooney's character was in the film<br /><br />As for classics I don't like that everyone thinks are brilliant classics I'll give you two The Searchers and Rio Bravo. Hey could someone wake me up when those films are on?S.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06643285652474314109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-53776571370357321952017-07-03T08:15:30.041-04:002017-07-03T08:15:30.041-04:00Fabulous column, Joe. Thank you! I have always L...Fabulous column, Joe. Thank you! I have always LOVED Breakfast at Tiffany's; however, I hate Godard and I hated 2001: A Space Odyssey. I have never seen To Kill A Mockingbird. And I have never been able to "get through" Casablana (always nod off). As far as Citizen Kane goes, have never particularly liked that film either. Can hardly wait to read the rest of you columns this week. MarvinMarvinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-63425029349399751332017-07-02T20:33:47.089-04:002017-07-02T20:33:47.089-04:00Michael- Don't get me started on either "...Michael- Don't get me started on either "Casablanca" or Godard, although I plan to do just that.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-22705068228696402472017-07-02T18:38:11.054-04:002017-07-02T18:38:11.054-04:00Yup. I adore Blake Edwards, but this is the one fi...Yup. I adore Blake Edwards, but this is the one film of his I really don't care if I ever see again. <br /><br />Ditto on AFFAIR (the original is so much better), WONDERFUL LIFE and 2001, to which I would add SHANE, ZHIVAGO, CASABLANCA (specifically Bergman's scenes; the rest is fine) and pretty much everything made by Godard.<br /><br />(runs for exit)mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-71815864879717503112017-07-02T17:19:28.847-04:002017-07-02T17:19:28.847-04:00I also agree about the film's opening and clos...I also agree about the film's opening and closing. There's a line in your favorite musical "Gypsy," Joe: "They'll forgive you anything if you have a big finish." Seems to me that the sappy ending really got to the public and the critics. And, yes, the opening credits are lovely. But everything in-between! Oh my!Sheilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-22524605059148248642017-07-02T16:18:41.675-04:002017-07-02T16:18:41.675-04:00Of course, I totally agree with all you said about...Of course, I totally agree with all you said about "Tiffany's." As for "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "To Kill a Mockingbird (or any type of bird)," I never saw them either! k.o.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-39907938604096016942017-07-02T16:16:48.067-04:002017-07-02T16:16:48.067-04:00I find the movie hard to get through as it has alw...I find the movie hard to get through as it has always committed to basic sin of just being boring. Your call on the opening and closing sequences are correct though. New York never looked so romantic that early in the morning. Can't wait to read what the rest of this week's films are.Joeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08396228442241622851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-27534610421860772672017-07-02T16:01:43.662-04:002017-07-02T16:01:43.662-04:00Deanne- Of course, she was. But Audrey Hepburn wa...Deanne- Of course, she was. But Audrey Hepburn was playing the character, so the politically correct description of her (in those days) was "party girl." Audrey was too classy and elfin to be called anything else. It's a dysfunctional movie, in spite of Hepburn's invaluable presence.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46580591883259592312017-07-02T15:40:30.648-04:002017-07-02T15:40:30.648-04:00Agree! And wasn't her character basically a p...Agree! And wasn't her character basically a prostitute? Same with how over-romanticized young women drooled over "Pretty Woman."Deannenoreply@blogger.com