Thursday, May 26, 2016

Mini-Review of "Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M." - The Making of a Hollywood Icon: Audrey Hepburn


I found this little book to be absolutely fascinating.  It's subtitle sets the parameters for Sam Wesson's exploration of the making of a Hollywood icon: "Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany's, And The Dawn Of The Modern Woman." Along the way, we get to look inside the making of the film that elevated Ms. Hepburn's career, as well as the behind the scenes maneuvering in choosing writers for the screen play, director, wardrobe, etc.  Many familiar names from the world of film and literature come to life with all of their warts and peccadilloes: Blake Edwards, Edith Head, Mickey Rooney, George Peppard, Henry Mancini, Billy Wilder, Hubert de Givenchy, et al.

Turning Truman Capote's novel "Breakfast At Tiffany's" with the unlikely anti-heroine Holly Golightly, into a film was no easy matter. This book illuminates many of the stages of that process. Reading this gem of a book made me choose to sit down to view the movie with fresh eyes.

Enjoy!

Al

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