Just a quick note to let those of you in Southern California, in or around Apple Valley in particular, know that there will be a special screening of Roman Holiday on Monday, August 16 at 7pm at the Cinemark Jess Ranch. You can find more information about tickets on the theatre's website here, as well as the address, phone number, and all that good stuff.
If you are in the area and have the free time, please go! This was the film that introduced Audrey to the world and won her the Oscar, go see it as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen. You won't regret it. And thank the darling Emily for sharing this information with all of us. Thank you!
Got some cool news for my fellow Angelinos last night! Sorry I waited until today to post it, but my Internet's been wonky and I don't trust posting here via my phone. Anyway, beginning tonight LACMA is hosting an Audrey Hepburn marathon entitled "Audrey Hepburn: Then, Now and Forever." It will run until November 13 and features some Hepburn films rarely shown on the big screen, along with special guest speakers.
Tonight, starting at 7:30 there will be a double feature of Roman Holiday and They All Laughed with an introduction by director Peter Bogdanovich (who directed Audrey in Laughed). Tomorrow, Saturday, is another double feature with Breakfast at Tiffany's and Two For the Road, with an introduction by William Daniels, a co-star from Road. And for the record, I'm really miffed I can't make this one because Two For the Road is maybe my favourite Audrey film and I haven't seen it on the big screen yet.
The double feature nights continue with Sabrina, Love in the Afternoon, Charade, Wait Until Dark, War and Peace (wow!) and My Fair Lady. To see the full list of upcoming screenings, along with film and guest speaker information and screen times, go here.
If you can make it to any of these screenings, please go! I can't tell you how much better it is to see your favourite films on the big screen as they were meant to be seen. You pick up on so much more and having an audience reacting around you just adds a new dimension to the film.
Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I apologize again and again, it's all my fault and my lack of a good regular Internet connection. Did everyone have a fun Halloween? Did you flood the streets with Holly Golightlys? :) It seems the costume guide from last year held up pretty well, and while I didn't receive any complaints, can you think of any way to expand or improve it? I'd love to eventually do a costume guide for a number of Audrey costumes, but since Holly Golightly is the most easily recognizable and easiest to shop for, I figured that was the safest bet.
Speaking of being easy to recognize in costume, I found myself without a costume the morning of Halloween, due to a fabric malfunction the night before. On short notice I ran out and got a black turtleneck and borrowed some loafers, and hit Hollywood as Jo Stockton (Funny Face). There were loads of people there, but through the whole night I only heard 10 people (not counting my two companions) realize it was an Audrey costume! I guess I should have tried that outfit the year that Gap commercial came out. Anyway, at a party later on in the night Holly Golightly, Eliza Doolittle and Jo met up:
It sounds like the setup to a joke, but no punchline comes to mind. (By the way, Eliza is played by Kendal, well known on our forums as well as the audrey1 forums.) Anyway, did anyone else dress up as Audrey and meet a twin?
Moving on, I've got some odds and ends to share. First, I've been slowly catching up with the site's email, and had a request that's really stumped me. Hopefully, someone out there can help! Tracey wrote in after seeing a gorgeous poster in a Flor catalogue, and the customer service people had no idea as to where it came from. I've never seen it before, but would sure like a copy! Here's the picture:
You can click on the picture for the full-sized version. Unfortunately, the chandelier obscures all the text, but I'm fairly sure that's French. Does anyone have any ideas as to where this came from? It may be a reprint of a vintage poster, though one I've never seen before. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!
Next up, this year is the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book, that is. The movie's birthday won't come up for another three years. The book is due to be released soon, with the vague publication date of November 2008, though I can't seem to find it on Amazon yet. Since B@T is short, a novella really, it's matched up with three other short stories under this stylish cover:
And lastly, speaking of reissues, curse Paramount Studios! Just as I'm starting to catch up on my Audrey DVDs, they have to go and re-release nearly all their Audrey films. *sigh* The worst part is that you know I'll buy them all. You probably will, too! Well, if you're trying to save on space and don't see the point of owning multiple versions of one film, you can always go the Audrey route and donate or give away your older versions. I like senior centers, myself, since they're always in need of entertainment and would definitely appreciate some Audrey Hepburn in their lives. Coming November 11th, just in time for the holidays, is Roman Holiday and Sabrina. Marketed under the Centennial Collection, both films feature all of the extras from previous DVD releases, plus some new featurettes and goodies that will hopefully make it worth your while. Just after the holidays, due out January 13th, comes Funny Face and Breakfast At Tiffany's -- yes, again. Both just celebrated anniversaries and had special editions come out, but now it comes in more dramatic packaging, also under the Centennial Collection. There's no additional information on these, so I don't know if there's anything new, but there'd darn well better be. People are starting to think I'm crazy, with three copies of every movie on my shelves!
I know it's short notice, but for all you Southern California Audrey fans, tonight in Pasadena there will be a free screening of Roman Holiday at 8:30 pm. It's at One Colorado Courtyard, Hugus Alley as part of the Old Pasadena Film Festival. Sounds fun! I'm sorry for the late notice, but I couldn't get on here any sooner to give you warning (stoopid Internet). And if you can make it, be sure to thank the lovely Libby for being thoughtful enough to share this with all of us. :D Parking is a flat rate of $6 in the nearby parking structure (more info here), and there are plenty of restaurants around you if you need a little nibble before or after the show. Oh, and you may want to get there early, because there are a lot more Audrey fans out here than you think! Enjoy if you can go, but if you live too far away or just can't make it, don't fret; just pop in the movie at home, make some popcorn, and curl up on your own comfy couch. Besides, you can pause if you need a bathroom break. ;)
Actress Deborah Kerr died Tuesday at the age of 86, according to her agent. I know she never directly worked with Audrey Hepburn, but I feel that she is definitely worth remembering because she was in the same class of actors as Audrey and they did end up having quite a lot in common, actually. Deborah was a refined European woman known for her poise and modesty, like Audrey. They were both dubbed by Marni Nixon, Deborah in The King and I, and Audrey in My Fair Lady. Both women dreamed of being ballerinas and looked up to dancer Margot Fonteyn as their idol as children, and both grew too tall to ever become prima ballerinas. The two were even pitted against each other at the Oscars in 1954, Deborah being nominated for her career-altering performance in From Here to Eternity, and Audrey for her breakthrough performance in Roman Holiday. Audrey won, as we all know, but there were obviously no hard feelings when Deborah went to meet Audrey backstage during the run of Ondine (above left). If you would like to learn more about Deborah Kerr, the L.A. Times wrote a beautiful three-page memorial to her, which you can read here.
It seems I've been remiss in my duties again. A lot of women have been searching for Audrey Hepburn, Holly Golightly, or Breakfast at Tiffany's sewing patterns so they can make their own costumes for Halloween (or everyday life, because Audrey Hepburn is year-round!), and I just left you to your own devices. I've felt guilty, though, and all day yesterday I scoured the Internet for suitable patterns to make you dream Audrey costume. Be prepared and take notes, because there's a lot here! I'm also going to make this a regular theme, updating once a season for any new patterns, so check back once in a while for new goodies.
If you want to go all out and be ultra-glam Audrey Hepburn, you might want to try this look from Roman Holiday. Using Vintage Vogue V2239 (below), you can almost exactly recreate Princess Ann's ballgown. I actually bought this pattern for just that purpose, and though I haven't used it yet, all I'm going to do is eliminate the sash and attach a small bit of fabric crosswise on the bodice.
If you are going for a Sabrina look, there are two patterns worth looking at. 1) Vogue Easy Options V8020, is an oversimplified version of the cocktail dress shown to the left. It has a flared, pleated skirt and would look very cute in black (see picture below, left). 2) Retro Butterick '57 B4513, is a much closer copy of the Sabrina dress and my personal favourite. I've been wanting to make a copy of that dress for years, and this pattern is the closest copy I've ever found! See for yourself (below, right).
If you're going for a more dainty, Love in the Afternoon type look, there are a few options for you as well. 1) Vintage Vogue V2960 (below, left) has a deep, scooped neck, fitted bodice, and flared skirt that's quintessential 50s. 2) Vintage Vogue V2267 (below, center) is actually a pattern I own and bought just to be Audrey as Ariane in Love for Halloween one year. It's a very comfy dress, easy to make, with a light tulle underskirt to give the skirt more body without being cumbersome. And it has pockets! 3) Retro Butterick '52 B5032 (below, right) is more of an all-purpose 50s pattern, but still works because it's still in Audrey's line of style. Comes in a more fitted skirt or a wide, flared skirt.
And of course there's the Holly Golightly/Breakfast at Tiffany's patterns! There's a lot, so I'm going to break it down to make it as easy as possible for you.If you're going for a very simple Holly dress, like a little black dress, then try these patterns out. Pretty much all of these would look good in any neutral colour or a soft brown tweed, so don't be afraid to experiment! 1) Vogue Easy Options V2218 (below, left) is actually a set of two-piece dress suits, but the one pictured fits together so well it's worth noting. A lot easier to sew, it's good for beginners and you can mix and match with your current wardrobe. 2) Very Easy Vogue 8282 (below, center left)a very nice sheath dress with matching simple jacket. Just forget about the lace appliqués and it's perfect. 3) Very Easy Vogue V8146 (below, center right) is very similar to the one just before, bit with a slightly more elaborate coat. Still a very easy to make sheath dress, if that's all you need from the pattern. 4) Burda Dress 3477 (below, right) is a sheath dress very similar to the one Audrey actually wears (right). If you were to add a tie sash to the waist and some fringe along the bottom, you'd have the dress exactly.
If you want to do more of a Holly Golightly suit, or know that it'll be pretty cold wherever you are and want a nice Audrey-style coat to go with your outfit, you may want to try Vogue Wardrobe V2988. It has a few dress options or separates, and the coat is fantastic (below).If you want a more generic little black dress that still very Holly Golightly, but you don't really care how accurate it is, here are a couple of options for you. 1) Simplicity New Look 6723 (below, left). Still very recognizable and very similar to some readymade dresses I recommended in the More Holly Golightly/Audrey Hepburn Costume Tips post. (Note: since I couldn't directly link to this pattern, you'll have to scroll about halfway down the page I could link to and click on the picture to see more information.) 2) Butterick Chetta B 3863out of print (below, right). While this pattern is out of print, you can still buy it through Butterick's website. This dress is a very simple set with either a top and skirt or a one-piece dress.
And what would a Holly Golightly dress be without that giant, flying saucer of a hat? I searched through a lot of hat patterns before deciding that Butterick's B4472 (below) would be the best bet for you. It looks to be a lot easier than any of Vogue's patterns, especially the vintage ones, and by just switching the crown of hat A onto the brim of hat C, you have an exact replica of that iconic hat. Just throw on an ivory bit of fabric and you are Holly Golightly!So there's everything you need for Audrey's characters. If you'd like to dress more like Audrey herself did in everyday life, I've thought of that, too. Read on!
A trés chic dress suit is dressy, classy, and versatile. Very Easy Vogue V8319 (below) has a gorgeous pattern with a fitted sheath dress and classy, wide-yoked coat. It could also double as a Jackie O. costume in a pinch. Skinny pants. I found two very good patterns for skinny pants, surprisingly. They were actually called cigarette pants (or trousers) in the day, and it does sound a bit classier and less spiteful than skinny, doesn't it? Anyway, these would be good for either a Funny Face beatnik type costume, or with a nice top it could be a flirty, casual 50s outfit. 1) Vogue V8330 (below, left) is a more modern pattern, but I like that it has three different lengths so you could have actual long pants, capris, or the cigarette trouser length depending on your preferences. This pattern must be made with a stretchy fabric! 2) McCall's M5273 (below, right) is more of a one-length pattern, but it's a little more classic in design with the flat front for a cleaner line.
A perfect match for those ciggie pants or capris? How about a dress shirt tied at the waist, as Audrey was wont to do. If you have a trim waist like she did, this is your chance to show it off -- modestly, of course. Try Butterick B6768 (below), though please note that it's out of print and only available through their website.A flirty little cocktail dress in any colour of your liking. Don't think Audrey limited herself to black! Feel free to experiment with Butterick B6582 (below).And, not to taunt you or anything, but if you ever come across this Holy Grail of Audrey Hepburn patterns, snatch it up! This Vogue pattern set came out in 2000 and wasn't out for very long, and it's extremely hard to find now. I'm guessing it didn't last long because it very closely copies Givenchy's designs for Breakfast at Tiffany's -- a little too closely, if you catch my drift. Check eBay once in a while for Vogue Wardrobe 2396 and you may luck out, though don't be surprised if you get caught in a bidding war. So there is everything ... for now. If there's anything that you think I missed or if you have questions about anything, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'd be more than happy to help.
Helpful hint: if you're going to buy a Vogue pattern, do it through their website! Unless they're out of print, they will always be on sale for up to 50% off.
If you've seen Roman Holiday, then you're familiar with screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's work. The name's not ringing a bell? Perhaps you have an older version of the film, then, before it was digitally remastered an re-released in 2002. For Dalton Trumbo was one of the Hollywood Ten -- ten screenwriters and directors who were blacklisted from work in the film industry for refusing to testify against their peers during the McCarthy hearings in the anti-Communist craze. Trumbo was the real writer of the Oscar-winning screenplay for Roman Holiday, but since he was banned from any and all work in Hollywood at the time, he used friend Ian McLellan Hunter as a front. Hunter accepted the award on Trumbo's behalf, and it wasn't until 1992 that the Academy Award records were revised and Trumbo's widow was presented with the award, and another ten years after that until the film was changed to give him the credit he deserved. Now, over 30 years after his death, his son and various well-known Hollywood names have made a documentary about Trumbo's outcast years. Trumbo has played recently at the Toronto Film Festival and is slowly snowballing into a bigger and bigger deal. The producers are being urged to seek a wide distribution deal so that everyone has a chance to see what really happened during Hollywood's "Golden Years," when enormously talented men were shut out from their livelihood because they refused to speculate, gossip, and lie over their comrade's political affiliations. There was even a film in the 70s about this, and how most screenwriters tried to use fronts to still be able to sell their work and make some money for their families. It's a brilliant film called The Front and it stars Woody Allen, and it'll really break your heart. If you can, watch both films. You can read more about Trumbohere, it's an excellent read.
Recently Amazon launched a new program called Unbox. I blew it off at first because I was sure they would only have newer films for download, but as it turns out, they already have about 10 Audrey films up for grabs! What's even better is that they have some rarities that new fans don't usually get to see. There's the old standards: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, but there's also some more dramatic, lesser known films everyone should know, such as The Nun's Story and The Children's Hour. There is even an episode of Great Romances of the Twentieth Century all about her relationship with first husband Mel Ferrer, which I haven't even seen and have been trying to get a hold of for ages!
This program is great because you can either download and rent a film for 24 hours for about $1.99, or you can buy the downloaded film for about $9.99, keep the film forever, and even legally download it to another computer or program it in to your TiVo. Pretty cool, huh? You can see the complete list of Audrey Hepburn items currently available through Unbox here, and I will definitely keep an eye on these and share any new goodies that may come up!
Note: this appears to only be available to residents of the US for the time being.
I've already posted three Japanese tea commercials that feature a digitally added Audrey Hepburn encouraging a young woman to be her beautiful self (and drink some tea while she's at it). Maybe it's the foreign novelty of it, but these commercials seem to offend a lot less people than the polarizing Gap commercial did. Anyway, these commercials always take scenes from Roman Holiday and subtly warp Audrey so that she's holding a bottle of tea. Sometimes she's colourized to fit in with the modern women, and sometimes she's left in her original black and white. This latest commercial falls into the latter category, and in this one she speaks! Unfortunately I'm not able to embed the video for this one, so you'll have to click here and watch for yourself via YouTube.
I'd just like to remind everybody that two new Audrey Hepburn goodies were released today. The first is the highly anticipated 50th anniversary Funny Face, which has new featurettes, including a retrospective on Audrey and Givenchy's lifelong friendship and partnership. It looks to be at least as good as the special anniversary edition of Breakfast at Tiffany's, so either order your copy today or be sure to put it on your wish list! The holidays are coming before you know it, and there are plenty of new goods coming out to make sure you have an excellent holiday.
The Audrey Hepburn 5-pack is also out today. This is a great gift for the new Audrey fan who maybe hasn't seen a lot of her films or doesn't own any yet. With pretty much all of her classics (Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Paris When It Sizzles) in one pretty box, this is easily the best gift ever. It's quite affordable, too, so it's a great idea to keep in mind when you're doing your holiday shopping or November/December birthday shopping.
If you are in the Madison, Wisconsin area or will be in December, then you might want to drop in the Westgate Art Cinemas. They'll be playing an Audrey Hepburn double feature there for a week, with Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday, two of Audrey's most beloved films. No specific dates are up yet, but you can check back near the end of November and even order tickets online. You can also read more about Westgate's Great Performances series here if you'd like.
There's a new Audrey Hepburn clip on You Tube, and in it Audrey tells the fantastic story of how she was made to cry at the end of Roman Holiday. For those of you who aren't familiar with this story, I won't ruin it for you, instead letting Audrey herself tell it to you:
This is part of a "best of" montage episode from Terry Wogan's talk show, and Audrey is only featured for the first three minutes. But what a great three minutes!
I've been working hard all morning updating the site, and there is now a full review of Anova Books' upcoming Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures. It's a bit more fleshed out than the original blog-only review I did last month, and will be on the website permanently here. As with any Audrey product that's listed on the site, if you own it or have seen it/read it and would like to leave your own review, please do so! Fellow fans would love to hear your point of view.
The Audrey Hepburn community has been updated as well, adding a lot of new fans just waiting to strike up a friendship with fellow Audrey fans from around the world. One new member in particular needs your help! They run the Roman Holiday Locations website and say:
Help me! It's trivial, yes, but would the community like to take a try at identifying some of the remaining unknown film locations for Roman Holiday? The easy ones are done, but you can see some nice screen shots just for fun! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If you think you can help in any way, or if you'd just like to see where Roman Holiday was filmed on location, then please stop by the website and poke around. It'd be a great help to others fans, and may help you if you find yourself in Rome one day with some time to poke around!
Lastly, the links page has been updated to include some new sites that have come up recently. If you're bored or maybe need some help for an Audrey-related report, check there for some great resources and fun ways to waste some time.
Just a quick note to let those of you in Southern California, in or around Apple Valley in particular, know that there will be a special screening of Roman Holiday on Monday, August 16 at 7pm at the Cinemark Jess Ranch. You can find more information about tickets on the theatre's website here, as well as the address, phone number, and all that good stuff.
