Book Review: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

Title: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.
Author: Sam Wasson
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book: Paperback, 288 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
                   Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Hepburn—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, “Moon River” composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the early sixties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good.

Review:
                  The first time I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's, I fell in love with Holly Golightly and her amazing wardrobe. Audrey Hepburn turned in a wonderful performance, but I had no idea the differences between the movie and the novel until I read Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. If you've ever wanted to know how a movie goes from novel, to screenplay, to cast, to production and the resulting reviews and reception, this is the type of book for you. It starts off with how Truman Capote turned influences in his real life into Holly and you get whisked off on a journey into the movies creation and release.

                   This book is full of almost gossip-worthy tidbits about the making of the movie, everything from how Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly to Henry Mancini writing "Moon River" with Audrey's octave in mind, and it almost not making it into the movie. Mickey Rooney's portrayal of her Asian upstairs neighbor offended plenty and almost got cut out. Also, black dresses weren't even a popular fashion item until Audrey wore that Givenchy LBD and started a black dress revolution that is still alive today.

                   In the Capote novella, Holly Golightly is small town girl turned NYC socialite who sleeps around and has a gay friend named Paul. Thinking the storyline was too racy for 60's movie audiences, they adapted Holly to be more of a tricky, independent woman and her friend Paul into being a straight neighbor with a sugar mama. They also changed the ending to be more romantic in keeping with the theme of their movie.
 
                  I thought this was a great book and it gave me such an insight into how a movie is made and all the drama that goes into it. The fact that it's about one of the greatest movies of all time really makes it special. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves films, fashion, or Audrey Hepburn. I give this book 4 stars.


Disclaimer: I  received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.