Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Film: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Director: Blake Edwards

Country: USA

Released: October 1961

Runtime: 114 minutes

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Studio: Paramount

Influenced: Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Mike Nichols, Rob Reiner, Sharon Maguire

Strange to be covering such a light, easy-going film after Antonioni's La Notte, but this list needs an Audrey Hepburn movie, and Breakfast at Tiffany's is her best performance. Directed by Blake Edwards (later of Pink Panther fame) and based on Truman Capote's novella of the same name, Breakfast at Tiffany's stars Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a young socialite who lives in New York City and who is trying to find a wealthy man to marry. George Peppard (later of A-Team fame) plays Paul Varjak, a struggling writer who becomes her neighbour and eventual love interest.

The film is often remembered for its iconic opening sequence, in which Hepburn's character stands outside the Tiffany & Co jewellery store on Fifth Avenue, eating a croissant and sipping coffee while dressed in a glamorous black Givenchy dress and oversized sunglasses. Hepburn's charm, wit and effortless style helped to make her a beloved screen and fashion icon, with her poster still adorning the wall of many young students. Also, the film's soundtrack, orchestrated by the renowned Henry Mancini and including Frank Sinatra's classic rendition of Moon River, has become famous in its own right.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is full of quirky and memorable characters, from Holly's eccentric neighbour, played by Mickey Rooney, to her wealthy and protective friend, played by Patricia Neal, and audiences were drawn to the film's offbeat sensibility. Its visual style and humour were also strong draws, with the comedic tone of the movie ranging from slapstick to sharp and irreverent satire. Some elements seem a bit outdated now, such as how the film depicts Holly as a flighty and naive young woman who uses her sexuality to manipulate men and advance her social status, but it's also heartwarming in the way it portrays love across the class divide.

Despite these minor flaws, Breakfast at Tiffany's remains a beloved classic of American cinema, and its influence can be seen in countless films and TV shows. Breakfast at Tiffany's helped to redefine the romantic comedy genre, which became hugely popular again in the 1960s, its storyline setting the template for many films that followed, from Annie Hall (1977) to When Harry Met Sally (1989). But there's no doubt that the film's enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless charm of Hepburn, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Holly. Her performance has inspired the portrayal of so many female characters in films ranging from Working Girl (1988) and Pretty Woman (1990) to Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).