A carefree playgirl tries to land herself a rich husband, while struggling over her unsure relationship with a young and handsome writer who moves into the apartment above her. She has a taste for the finer things in life, like diamonds at Tiffany’s, but will she find choose true wealth or true love?

For me, it’s very weird seeing a young and dashing George Peppard in this film, as I grew up knowing him as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, the gruff and tough leader of The A–Team. It was also strange to see the name of director Blake Edwards on this film, as he will always be, for me, synonymous with great sex comedies like 10 and my favorite SKINDEEP. (Love those neon condoms!) So having never seen BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S in its entirety, (though I had seen well quoted scenes every now and then) I was hopeful that I too would fall in love with this much revered classic. Unfortunately, I think that there is more love over the film’s sentimentality rather than the work itself, as I found myself less than enchanted. (The box calls the film timeless, I beg to differ!) The film really rests on Hepburn’s shoulders, as the audience has to unconditionally love her character for the film to succeed. But to me, her playful and free spirited nature was a little on the creepy side. She reminded me of a cross between the Rosanna Arquette and Teri Garr nutball characters in Martin Scorsese’s After Hours. So by the time the truth behind her strange behavior is revealed, I was yelling at the screen for Peppard to run like a bastard!

I always heard that the film was a love story, but at times, it’s very heavy handed. Not that it can’t be, but Edwards (who definitely mastered this later) flip-flops back and forth to comedy and drama in such a forced and choppy way, that it’s quite discombobulating. One minute we have a very somber Buddy Ebsen (with no Beverly hillbilly accent!) playing some seriously dramatic scenes, then we cut to Mickey Rooney (completely mis-cast) goofing of as, of all things, an obnoxious oriental man! (It’s like they stuck the Jerry Lewis NUTTY PROFESSOR character in there!) And Peppard himself has almost no character, simply walking through the film with a wink and a smile, which may have been cute back then, but it’s not now. The only thing that I found even remotely touching about the film was the score and music, and not just because it won the Oscar. It definitely adds a mood and if it were only attached to a better film, it could have done so much more. Romance in this type of film should blossom and ripen with every frame, but BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, like its uneven and unstable characters, wants to ram it down your throat. Just because a film is called a classic, doesn’t mean it is, folks. Greatness is in the eye of the beholder and, call me crazy, but I’ll stick with Hannibal and Skindeep, the classics that I love unconditionally.

Video: Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1, and even though I didn’t like the film, it looks better then ever.

Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Surround, French Mono and a special English Restored Mono, which will definitely re-capture the nostalgic feeling for all you purists out there.

I must say that the features (minus the commentary!) on this Anniversary addition are short, but completely held my interest. They were honest and downright revealing, just what every DVD feature should have! (And I didn’t even like the friggin” film!)

Audio commentary (with Producer Richard Shepherd): The problem with this commentary is that producer Shepherd is getting on in years, which means pauses galore, not to mention that his memory isn’t what it used to be. (At one point, Shepherd even questions himself, saying “I’m not sure what I’m about to say is correct” !) He states mostly the obvious – here’s Tiffany’s, here’s Holly’s apartment – and the few tidbits that he manages to get out that may be of interest to fans, are told in a more succinct fashion in the disc’s various min-docs. (Aka, skip to those!) Plus Director Edwards should have given some commentary, as he is brutally honest in the subsequent featurettes and probably would have given a more revealing chat.

The Making Of A Classic (16:13): This one starts with Director Edwards and producer Shepard dishing the dirt on production and the actors, and I mean dishing. Everything from Edwards stating that he didn’t want Peppard for the role and still wouldn’t cast him today, to questioning his choice of casting Mickey Rooney as an oriental, something he says he wanted then, but is an embarrassment now. (Couldn’t agree more!) Then enters Robert Wolders, whom it says in captions on the screen was the “companion” of Ms. Hepburn, really weird and fascinating stuff. The only actors left alive, a few party goers and feisty Patricia Neal, round out the cast. This is a real, brutal, and honest mini-doc and it was great to watch!

It’s So Audrey! A Style Icon (8:15): A look at Audrey Hepburn and her style, both in fashion and in person. (Her work with UNICEF is very admirable, she was a classy lady) Again an interesting doc that had me glued. Most bold moment – when producer Shepard remarks that Hepburn had big feet and was flat chested, way to keep it real Richard - real nasty!

Brilliance In A Blue Box (6:04): A complete history of Tiffany’s jewelry store, from it’s beginnings to how they created various famous pieces. Could have been boring learning channel crap, but it turns out to be entertaining, as well as informative. (And I hate the learning channel!)

Audrey’s Letter To Tiffany (2:29): The story about the preface that Hepburn wrote for the Tiffany’s 150th Anniversary book. It’s a sweet letter and this featurette is put together with such a flair and style, it’s a must for fans.

There is also a Theatrical Trailer, which definitely captures the films of that era and how they sold. Love when the captions come up that state “It’s everything you always wanted to do… and Audrey Hepburn is the one you’ve always wanted to do it with!” Plus there are Previews for Elizabethtown and for a Titanic 3 Disc Special Collector’s Edition.

For fans of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, this set has a nice transfer and sound, along with some very revealing featurettes, that will keep you enchanted for years to come. (The commentary’s lacking, but you can’t have it all!) Still, I must say, in a romantic and nostalgic film, I prefer my women not to be nut-burgers. What Hepburn did as the character of Holly Golightly, may have been magical back in 1961, but today it’s just downright creepy. Plus you add in a boring (can it be true?!) George Peppard, a miscast and stupid oriental Mickey Rooney, and the shifty direction of a young and green Blake Edwards, and I’m almost begging for that schmaltzy romantic Christian Slater flick where he has the baboon heart. Call me unsentimental, but I’m skipping this breakfast.