Mum's Monday: Breakfast at tiffany’s - Book and Film

The film is based on the book by Truman Capote

Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburn and Paul Varjak played by George Peppard

Breakfast at tiffany’s

The film is based on the book by Truman Capote

Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburn and Paul Varjak played by George Peppard

The film follows the book well, however there are a few subtle changes but mostly it is a faithful adaptation. In the film, Holly’s apartment is as described in the book: sparse with boxes as furniture. The book is mostly told from Paul’s perspective and the film is mostly told from Holly’s perspective.

Holly who is pretending that she is a glamorous play girl and who owns a cat, which she has named Slob Cat because she doesn’t give it a proper name. Holly makes her money by dating rich and influential men and also by visiting Sally Tomato in Sing Sing prison. Sally thinks she is just visiting to keep him company and hearing the weather forecast, which she relays for money to Sally’s supposed lawyer. This is not the case though, holly is mixed up in a drug business and the messages are drug related codes.

Paul moves into the apartments directly above Holly and seemed to be the only one to help her. Throughout her chaotic life and parties, he is the only one who remains level-headed and notices when something is wrong. He gets caught up in Holly’s life, but keeps on living his own life as well.

The first noticeable difference between the book and the film is there is no character, Madame Spanella. In the book, she and Mr. Yunioshi both complains about the loud parties that Holly frequently has, whereas in the film, only Mr. Yunioshi is present and complains to Holly and helps the authorities when Holly gets arrested for unknowingly helping Sally Tomato.

The second noticeable difference is at the end of the story. In the film, Holly and Paul get together and Slob Cat doesn’t find a new home, whereas in the book, they don’t get together and Slob Cat does find a new home. I prefer the film’s ending to the book’s ending as it is nicer to see the two main characters get together instead of just getting on with their lives.

I think Audrey Hepburn was perfect in the role of Holly Golightly, but to follow the book slightly better I don’t think casting Mickey Rooney for the role of Mr Yunioshi was authentic enough to the character in the book.

I would recommend the Book and the film because I think it shows the light and dark side of a party girl living in New York and how easy it is to get swept up and involved in a life without realising or intending to. Watching the film and reading the book is both equally as good and it doesn’t matter what order this is seen or read.