One of the most iconic films of the 20th Century, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is regarded as a landmark film that is culturally and historically significant in relation to Hollywood history. This 1961 romantic comedy is based on Truman Capote’s 1958 novel of the same name and follows the story of Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn. With its cinematography, New York essence, and fashion pieces, this film is visually pleasing and has become the poster image of 1960s America. Given that cult classics as such are making a comeback with their remakes, it will not be surprising to see Breakfast at Tiffany’s make its way to 21st Century Hollywood.
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In fact, in 2021, there was a legal battle between Capote and Paramount Pictures over the adaptation rights of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. With such news circulating, it is only a matter of time before a remake is officially confirmed. However, the question is how can this masterpiece benefit from a modern remake. With New York, the fashion industry, and even the film industry having changed drastically over time, it is obvious that a modern remake of Breakfast at Tiffany’s would look different from its original. But, in addition to those elements, the story in itself might also be beneficial from a remake.
More Diversity Minus The Racism
Paramount Pictures
Even though Breakfast at Tiffany’s played an important role in Hollywood history, it also illustrated the racism that was very much evident in 20th Century Hollywood. Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi is one of the biggest criticisms the film has received and for very obvious reasons. In Capote’s novel, the character of Mr. Yunioshi had more depth and meaning, but Edward’s conversion of the character into a slapstick character for entertainment purposes was a poor choice. Especially since Rooney’s use of yellowface to create a Japanese man who was angry all the time might have tapped into the stereotyping of Japanese culture. Thereby, a modern remake would be able to correct this error by doing justice to Mr. Yunioshi’s character. This would mean a proper casting of the character with an actor of Japanese descendant and giving the character its much-needed arc and depth.
The film would also benefit from the addition of a more diverse cast rather than the selection of an all-white cast. This would make it more relatable, and it would also be able to bring in a more realistic portrayal of the diverse society we live in.
A Feminist Approach Minus The Sexism
It is obvious that no one will be able to recreate Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly. Not only is Holly lively, charming and cheery, but her specific features like her fast-paced talking, no-care attitude, and fearless nature make her a unique character. However, the existence of a strong patriarchal presence within the film ends up taking away Holly’s authority and autonomy. In fact, Holly is introduced as a “wild” and “untamable” woman, which would translate into an independent, strong-willed person who is trying to make her way through New York. However, the film ends with Holly being “tamed” by Paul Varjak (George Peppard) as she accepts his whole idea of “people belonging to one another”. Moreover, when Holly is arrested, she has to rely on Paul and O. J. to get away from prison.
When looked at closely, Holly seems to be one strong female lead whose strength is diluted by the end. A modern remake could alter this approach by giving Holly her autonomy and ensuring that she has an ending that prevents her from “belonging” to anyone else but herself. From the beginning of the story, Holly dreams of being successful on her own and helping her brother, Fred, out. Preserving this dream would allow her to remain a strong female lead who might even be able to influence other women.
Emphasis On Social Issues Without Romanticizing Them
In addition to the racist and sexist portrayals mentioned above, there are several other instances that make one feel super uncomfortable while watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s. One is Holly’s relationship with Doc. Doc introduces himself to Paul as Holly’s husband, which shocks Paul (and the viewers) since Doc is clearly old enough to be Holly’s father. It turns out, Doc married Holly (then known as Lula Mae Barnes) when she was barely 14 years old. This then evoked the idea of underage marriage. However, what is even more shocking is Holly still being “close” to Doc and going to the extent of apologizing to him. Thus, the film has romanticized the idea of underage marriage, which is a very huge problem even in the present day. A remake would definitely be able to emphasize the dark nature of this issue instead of romanticizing it.
The film also romanticizes the idea of stalking as we see Holly being stalked by O. J. and even Doc. However, she looks past these and goes on to interact with the stalkers. As Reynolds points out, the film has “bleached of the darker themes from Truman Capote’s original story” and thus, the viewers seem to forget that these are actual issues young girls face which endangers their lives.
A Glimpse of Today’s Fashion and New York
Aside from correcting the wrong and problematic approaches taken in the original film, a remake would also be able to explore the 21st Century fashion, especially that of New York. With the streets of The Big Apple having changed over the years, it would be fascinating to see its aesthetic in a modern version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In terms of the fashion industry, it is obvious that Holly would be able to make a huge impact on the field by using it as a chance to show off the modern fashion world. It might even go on to be an iconic representation of 21st Century American fashion.
