Release Year: 1961
Director: Blake Edwards
*****
When people talk about romance movies, a select handful always top the list: Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally, Breakfast at Tiffany's. Based on that comparison, I expected this movie (a showcase for Audrey Hepburn) to be more, well, lovey-dovey. It's quite the opposite, actually. Hepburn, as a country girl pretending to be someone she isn't, radiates on the screen, true, but the romance with Paul (an extremely gorgeous George Peppard) falls flat because we never believe it.
These two people are as far removed from anything the audience has ever experienced that there is no empathy for them, only bewilderment and near contempt. For example, Paul and a "lady friend" are treated with such kid gloves for the majority of the film that I second and triple guessed myself as to their relationship. I'm sure to an audience in 1961, it was obvious. But was I reading something into their relationship that wasn't really there? Neither of these people (Holly and Paul) are good people on a fundamental level. It's one thing to have flawed characters; it's quite another to be nearly unlikeable.
But something about the performances and Hepburn specifically redeem the film. She is so easy to look at, plays the part so effortlessly and feels like someone any one of us would wrap our arms around to comfort. And that's what Paul sees in her, despite the parties, mix ups with the law and insane fascination with money. He wants to love her unlike anyone has ever loved her before. Had the movie started with THAT idea instead of playing coy for over an hour before reaching that point, this would have been the romance everyone talks about.
Enough can not be said about Hepburn and Peppard. She is one of Hollywood's crown jewels, undoubtedly. Legend has it Marilyn Monroe was the studio's choice to place Holly. As good as she is, I don't think Monroe could ever compete with Hepburn. Simply put, Monroe was a glamor queen and Hepburn was an "every woman." It is the reason she is a beloved star.