Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️

I really enjoyed this one. I’ve never been a movie or movie star fanatic, and Sam Wasson’s book served as a quick, entertaining intro to the host of colorful characters that played a role, literally and inspirationally, in crafting Breakfast at Tiffany’s, both the book and iconic film.
Wasson’s crisp weaving of accounts and anecdotes did a fabulous job drawing me in and teasing me toward a list of bygone Hollywood rabbit holes - longer TBR list, including the OG BaT, which I didn’t know was a book FIRST!

The backstory of how first the novel and then the film Breakfast at Tiffany's came to be was an interesting read, and for those of us not in the know, the extensive dealmaking and ego-soothing that goes into making a film is entertaining and interesting as well.

This book wasn't what I was hoping, however. I was hoping for more "Dawn of the Modern Woman," but that aspect of the book was limited to the author's rather thin speculations, with little analysis or real historical context. Expecting something somewhat more intellectual from the suggestion that the book would explore the connection between the film, the actress, and the change in social mores in the early 60s, I was disappointed by its simplistic tone and People-magazine-level prose style. As a work of cultural analysis, I'd give it a D, though I suspect that isn't really what it was supposed to be, after all.

As a pastiche of interesting stories and interesting (if not very pleasant) personalities, however, the book works. I wouldn't have purchased it in hardcover for those qualities, but live and learn.

I've always loved the book and the film despite the gulf between them, so really enjoyed this nerd-fest behind the scenes of how the movie came to be.

After my second reading this book still fascinates. Audrey at Tiffany’s is a cultural cliche on every college girl’s dorm wall, but the real story is far more complex and interesting. If you love the film, get ready to kill some sacred cows.

This behind the scenes account explains how the movie we know wasn’t immediately apparent, and how it deviated from Capote’s original story (which is also a must-read). B at T’s was both innovative and conservative, which may explain its enduring appeal.

Deducting one star because half the book is a man explaining femininity. Would love to have had more female primary source voices on the film’s impact.

Hmmm. What did I learn from this book? That George Peppard was a conceited ass. This book is pretty light on feminist theory and more a behind the scenes account strictly for fans only.

A good book.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson
Harper, 2010
204 pages
Non-fiction; celebrity
3/5 stars

Source: School library

Summary: A look at the making of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's:' how the producers, director, writer, and stars came to make it and how it impacted cinema and American life.

Thoughts: I think I saw a review of this in People magazine and I put it on my list because it seemed like a breezy read with links to the classic movies I love (actually don't really like BaT but I also need to watch it again). This was a very quick and easy read. I'm not particularly familiar with any of it although I've seen BaT and I don't not like Audrey Hepburn (she's not in my top 10, but maybe the top 20). Reading the backstories was interesting-tracing Hepburn's path to this role and looking at the backstage people is always interesting as they're too often neglected.

But Wasson's argument about how groundbreaking this film was in its depiction of female sexuality is not well argued. Just repeating that it pushed boundaries and was remarkable does not equal a well-reasoned and well-supported argument. It also seemed quite shallow and I kept feeling like there should be more to the story although I wasn't sure what.

Overall: Definitely recommended for the diehard fans of BaT; otherwise don't bother.

Cover: I love the cover-Audrey in the iconic dress with Tiffany blue in the subtitle is perfect!

Great insight into the making of Breakfast At Tiffany's. Highly recommended!