Reviews

You don't have to be an Italian to appreciate the humor, but it's certainly an advantage if you understand Italian... Needless to say, Benigni is funny enough even WITHOUT words; and contrasted with the dry, serious priest (Matthau is brilliant here) he appears more absurd than ever. Who but Benigni could play the part of the devil so convincingly, with such comic innocence and enthusiasm? Who but Walter Matthau could capture so perfectly the mood of the cynical, dry-humoured priest? In this light-hearted film, there is nothing predictable except, perhaps, for the odd friendship that springs up between the two men - and that, with this unbeatable team, you are in for some hilarious moments. A film worth seeing again and again !!!

No actress could have been a more perfect Holly Golightly than Audrey Hepburn with her chic thinness and wide-eyed charm; she manages to combine just the right amount of country-girl naiveté with jet-set sophistication, the right amount of honesty with "phoniness" and in doing so has created one of the most memorable characters ever to appear on the silver screen. Accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack from Henry Mancini (Hepburn's rendition of "Moon River" is unforgettable), an eccentric, lovable cat ("poor slob without a name") and a lively portrayal of the jet-setters in a world where you feel nothing can really go wrong, this is a "feelgood" film of the first class.

The story closely follows the original book by Truman Capote, with one important difference: in the film, Holly does not run away to Brazil but decides to stay where her heart is - in New York, with the man she loves. This is not quite in keeping with the real character of Holly Golightly: as her name suggests, she is always travelling, and does not want to belong to anyone or have anyone belong to her. However, this is Hollywood, 1961, where Happy Endings are the order of the day... and this is a film that, even forty years later, has lost nothing of its irresistible charm