Talking about "Holly Golightly, Travelling" inspired of course a thought to those who could not be there because far away or not yet far away, or even somewhat nearby but nevertheless not able to join...
Although everybody seems to know BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, very few - more honestly - nobody in our round did really read it before. We wondered if it is a book read at school? And even more astonishing: Anyboody did see the movie either! So we count strongly on our cinéphile members to resolve this bad state of affairs. At least it is very clear by now how much images, and not even moving images, effect our perception and memory!
We agreed that Truman Capote did a genuinely beautiful construction and writing, but we had beyond that rather more questions than answers, particularly about social standards and acceptable behaviours at that particular time.
Robin had a good explanation for Holly's today definetely rather unusual trips to the girl's room, which could not serve nowadays as a resource to pay for a golden bird cage.
Talking about trips we also discussed how the book from start to finish really revolves her running around the world from one point to another. It starts and ends with her travels and a core issue is the question of her belonging somewhere.
Not finally answered was the question how she would be considered today: Call girl or escort girl? Or is she not such type of "a girl" at all, since she is following only her own moral standards and thus her own 'calls'; and being rather escorted than escort herself? Anyhow, Capote's Holly wouldn't be a role model unlike what we at least perceive the Hepburn version to be.
There was also spoken of selfdestructive behaviour. Holly is not calculating the future impact of her actions, which mostly does her no good. At least she is not constructing something of her own, just living in the here and now, reacting on opportunities and taking what she can get. As much as she is a likeable person, the reader is left somewhat irritated about so much naivety and unconcern.
But back to Audrey Hepburn: The crown of the beauty queen for the evening went definetely to Emma-Jane, arriving in a terrific little black dress!
PS: Here an additional thought by Emma-Jane:
"I forgot to bring up something at the meeting. There are some mentions of the “mean reds” throughout, which I thought must be like panic attacks, maybe even depression, or perhaps even the results of her “wild” lifestyle. Thought this was an interesting point and it would be interesting to know if these “mean reds” are a result of her previous experiences or her current lifestyle."
Maren & Emma-Jane
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| Holly passed by? - Breakfast in Burma (c) Robin |
A couple of notes (may be familiar to some of you already):
ReplyDelete1. "Truman had once heard an anecdote and filed it away, waiting for the time he could use it. During World War II a man of middle age entertained a Marine one Saturday night. The man enjoyed himself so much in the Marine's muscular embrace that he felt he should buy him something to show his gratitude; but since it was Sunday when they woke up, and the stores were closed, the best he could offer was breakfast.
" 'Where would you like to go?' he asked. 'Pick the fanciest, most expensive place in town.'
"The Marine, who was not a native, had heard of only one fancy, expensive place in New York, and he said: 'Let's have breakfast at Tiffany's.' "
2. Iconic as Audrey now is, Capote's own choice to play Holly Golightly onscreen was Marilyn Monroe. We must discuss at a soon-to-be-scheduled screening!
Having read A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S an iconic phrase from Blanche could also be pronounced by Holly (at least reading it in its first degree): "I always depended on the kindness of strangers." But nobody would ever expect such a phrase from Holly.
ReplyDeleteA STREETCAR... was written in 1947, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S was published in 1958 - what a change in the world in 11 years!