get in the Halloween spirit with Audrey Hepburn

It's getting closer to Halloween, and maybe you already have your chic Audrey Hepburn (or Holly Golightly) costume assembled and ready to go. But how about getting a little more into the Halloween spirit by watching Wait Until Dark, a claustrophobic thriller with Audrey? It's scary, it's intense, and it's Audrey in her last Oscar-nominated role. Last year Alan Arkin's sinister Harry Roat was voted one of the Top Ten villains on film, so you might want watch this one with a friend. And with a light on. Anyway, you can rent it or watch it straight from YouTube in its entirety, thanks to the same great person who put up Breakfast at Tiffany's: You can view the other segments here, and don't forget to say thank you!

Kay Thompson steals the show

At the beginning of this year I saw an Audrey Hepburn double feature that included Funny Face, the first time I'd ever seen that film on the big screen. I was surprised to see that a good portion of the audience, maybe even half, was there because they were huge Kay Thompson fans. Sadly, little information seems to be readily available on her, but I did find someone who is willing to share Kay with the world. At People vs. Dr. Chilledair, the author shares some insider information that he has on her, including the fact that Kay's goddaughter Liza Minelli is currently recording a tribute album to her. It will be called "The Godmother + The Goddaughter," though no release date has yet been set. Kay herself only has two albums available (that I could find, anyway), "The Golden Years 1934-1954," and "Queen of Swing Vocals and Her Rhythm Singers 1933-37." It's a shame that more isn't available, because she was a prolific and highly talented woman. The author of Dr. Chilledair has also posted a great video on YouTube with some of Kay's earlier film performances, including one song and dance routine done just five years before Funny Face:



And, if you needed a little refresher course on Funny Face, here she is completely owning "Clap Yo Hands." Sorry, Fred Astaire! If it weren't for Audrey singing "How Long Has This Been Going On?" this would be my favourite song from the film:



Maybe this new wave of attention to Kay will inspire someone to write a great biography on her, or release more of her music.

Watch it while you can!

For those of you coming here for Audrey Hepburn costume help, don't hesitate to click the link on the right. But if you would like to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's for a little help and inspiration and don't have a copy available, you may want to go here and watch it on YouTube. I don't know how long it will be up, but enjoy it while you can! And leave a thank you for the person who was kind enough to put it up for everyone to enjoy.

"Gossip Girl" shout-out to Breakfast at Tiffany's

There's a new show on the CW (in America) called "Gossip Girl." It's just started, but last night on episode 4, the show opened with an homage to the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I've put a clip I found below, but until I figure out how to cue up YouTube videos to just play the bits I want, I'm afraid you'll have to skip to the 1:32 mark and play until 2:23 to see the whole thing. Watching beyond that is optional:

Edit: The video has been taken down, but I do have screengrabs for you. Maybe someday the clip will be put up and can stay up, but in the meantime, these will have to do. Just imagine "Moon River" playing in your head and you've got it.

yet another Japanese tea commercial featuring Audrey Hepburn

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.

how to make Audrey Hepburn cry

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!

Watch Sabrina for free!

Like other Audrey movies uploaded in the past, I don't know how long this will last, but for the time being you can go to You Tube and watch Sabrina in its entirety for free! Part one is below, and the other 10 segments are linked below:



part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
part 7
part 8
part 9
part 10
part 11

Hurry! Send your friends to watch it too, Audrey fans or not. And while you're there, please drop a line to the uploader, thanking them for putting this film up along with so many other fantastic classics. S/he also has Arsenic and Old Lace, Casablanca, A Day at the Races, Double Indemnity, Citizen Kane, and so many other fabulous films up right now, so enjoy them while you can.

How to look like Holly Golightly; Audrey interview from 1990

A few days ago I got a message from askmemakeup on You Tube, telling me about a new makeup video she's done instructing women on how to get the Holly Golightly look in makeup. I watched it last night, and wow! It's really good. I've always had a difficult time with false eyelashes (maybe due to my real eyelashes -- they've been likened to giraffe eyelashes), but after watching this video I really want to try it again, and I have a good feeling I'd finally get it right. Watch for yourself, then try for yourself!



This, coupled with previous posts on how to get Holly Golightly's hair, her sleep mask, and how to be Holly Golightly, should send you well on your way to being truly obsessed.

There's another great video of Audrey up, this one found by lovely reader MaDoNnA4L. It's an interview Audrey did with Phil Donahue in 1990, and Miss M says: "It is so wonderful to see her in a light atmospehere, laughing with the audience and having fun discussing her handsome costars and her current boyfriend, Robert Wolders. It also has very touching moments where Audrey discussed her time in the war as well as her father leaving." Watch for yourself and see! All four parts are below:









If you liked these videos, and I'm almost certain you will, then please thank 1988CityRhythm for being so kind as to post these for everyone to enjoy.

rare insight into Audrey Hepburn

There's a new video on You Tube from a made-for-TV biography that I don't think I've ever seen. The clip that was uploaded was from a Chinese airing, but maybe it's been aired in English-speaking countries? Either way, it's fantastic interviews with Mel Ferrer, Henry Mancini (composer of "Moon River"), Stanley Donen (director of Funny Face and Two For the Road), and Hubert de Givenchy. It's a really fascinating segment to watch and gives more insight into Audrey's career and relationships with these men, you really just have to see it to appreciate it. I certainly can't do it justice!

the Audrey hoodie; win tickets to see an Audrey double feature!

Aspiring to be mistaken for the one and only Audrey Hepburn, but don't want to put any effort into it? Or maybe you just really want to advertise your love for Holly Golightly? Either way, if you're interested in wearing Audrey's head on your head, then the Audrey Hepburn Hoodie may be right for you. It's made exclusively through Headhoods, and is printed on American Apparel wear, so it's sweatshop-free and American-made.

Here's an extra little bonus for the Texan Audrey fans lurking about: The Austinist is having a ticket giveaway contest for this weekend's Audrey double feature at the Paramount Theatre! You can read more about the double feature (featuring Breakfast at Tiffany's and Funny Face) here, and enter to win tickets at the bottom of the page, directly under the Funny Face description. As an added bonus, the Breakfast trailer they have posted on the page was uploaded by yours truly. :D

watch Charade for free!

A lesser-known piece of information for you: the fantastic Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant feature Charade has actually slipped into the public domain! I don't know how it happened, but it has, which means you technically don't have to pay to watch or own this fantastic film. While I still recommend at least watching the Criterion Collection edition of this film with the commentary by director Stanley Donen and writer Peter Stone (those two men are hilarious!), I completely understand the $40 price tag being a little much for a lot of Audrey fans out there. In the meantime, though, you can sit in the comfort of your computer chair and watch this stylish caper completely free on You Tube:

Edit: Links removed because the entire film has been taken down.

It's So Audrey! A Style Icon

Audrey Hepurn tulip dedication ceremony

For those of you who either don't own or just haven't seen the new Gardens of the World DVD set, there is a bonus disc filled with outtakes and other goodies. One clip in particular is worth it alone. It's the official dedication/unveiling of the Audrey Hepburn tulip, a lovely long-necked white flower. The ceremony took place on a rainy day at Huis Doorn, the manor house that used to be owned by Audrey's family before the war. I don't want to spoil it for you, but you should definitely watch if you want to see Audrey speaking her native Dutch:



Also from the Gardens bonus disc is a short interview Audrey did on camera (in England?) about her work with UNICEF and how strong and flexible children are in general. It's a short clip at one minute, but very sweet and informal.



Enjoy!

My Best Friend: Audrey Hepburn continued

Last month I posted about a new BBC biography series called My Best Friend, and how Sean Hepburn Ferrer had filmed an episode about his mum, Audrey Hepburn. Beaker from L'Ange des Enfants was kind enough to send me a copy of this, and I've just finished posting it to You Tube for everyone to enjoy. :) If you live outside of the UK then chances are you haven't seen this biography yet, and I highly recommend that you do. Not only does it give you yet another side of Audrey, but we see more of the elusive Sean. The program seems to have been filmed at his house in Tuscany, but it also shows new footage of La Paisible, Audrey's wonderful home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland. Sean is very open about his relationship with his mother, and talks quite frankly about his parents' divorce and what went wrong. It's the most I've ever heard on the subject, and it gives a lot of insight to both Audrey and Mel Ferrer that most people either never got or seemed to have missed entirely. All in all, it's a lovely biography with fascinating content and great pictures, a good way to spend half an hour.







While the You Tube clips came out rather nicely, the original is far better without all the compression. I'll be posting the full show -- not chopped into three pieces -- on the website shortly, along with some other You Tube videos. I'm also working on getting some great Audrey clips that I only have on videotape uploaded to the computer to share as well, so keep checking back!

more Audrey Hepburn videos

I've uploaded some more Audrey Hepburn clips to You Tube, though you can just watch them here if you'd like:


Audrey Hepburn at premieres was originally compiled by MrNatashaRostov, and is made of various newsreel clips. It shows Audrey at film premieres for The Nun's Story, My Fair Lady, and War and Peace, to name a few. If you like it, let him know!


A newsreel about the 26th annual Academy Awards, 1954. This was the year Audrey won the Oscar for Best Actress for Roman Holiday, and the clip also plays her entire thank you speech. If you have never seen that footage before, please do! It's absolutely charming.


This clip and the next are both mute, but don't let that fact keep you from watching these. Both clips are raw footage taken at the UK premiere of My Fair Lady, and while it may be a little strange or dull at first, keep watching. The behind the scenes bits later on are really worth it, and it's like seeing another side of Audrey. Definitely worth the wait.



Enjoy!

for your viewing pleasure

Someone has posted some Audrey Hepburn goodies to You Tube! That someone would be me. :) Better late than never, here are some of the birthday presents I have for you:



Audrey Hepburn in Paris, the all French interview she and husband Mel Ferrer conducted at Orly airport in France. I had posted this video before, but sadly PrinceCharmingxoxo's account at You Tube was suspended and all of his videos were taken down. Thankfully, he either sent me his videos or told me where to go to get my own copies, so they can now be shared again! Hopefully he'll be back soon with a new account, so you can thank him when he returns.



A solid gold sculpture of Audrey Hepburn, done by renowned artist Renato Signorini.



A fashion show, presumably using the costumes from Sauce Piquante, done by the cast. Audrey isn't actually credited or called by name in the film, but you can definitely spot her and her elfin ears if you look. I hope she got a pay bonus for wearing that ridiculous dress, too.



Audrey and Mel Ferrer visit Utrecht, Holland, to attend the premiere of Mel's film El Greco. Audrey receives a hero's welcome, of course!



Last for tonight, the UK premiere of My Fair Lady receives a royal welcome with the attendance of no less than a princess!

There will be more videos coming soon, and all of the videos on You Tube will also be up on the multimedia page of the website as well.

Edit: PrinceCharmingxoxo is alive and well as the new MrNatashaRostov! So please, drop him a line thanking him for finding a lot of these wonderful videos, and encourage him to keep looking.

a pint-sized Holly Golightly

Photographer Amy Wenzel recently did a themed photoshoot revolving around Audrey Hepburn. She wanted to recreate the immortal Breakfast at Tiffany's photo of Audrey as Holly Golightly enjoying her breakfast actually inside Tiffany's (see photo at left), and made a little documentary showing how this idea became a reality. She didn't have a specific little girl in mind when she started this, but it all came together nicely in the end, and you will be very charmed by this video:

For any girls out there wishing to make their own Golightly-themed photo shoot, this video might give you some tips and tricks on how to make your own photos more closely resemble Audrey's.

watch Funny Face while you can!

While searching You Tube last night I found that someone was in the process of uploading Funny Face in its entirety! They've finished by now, so if you haven't seen this fantastic musical yet, or just haven't seen it in a while, you should go while the getting is good. I don't know how long these will be up, so go! Part one is below:

Edit: video has been removed from YouTube by its user.

Target.com also has a little goodie for you: an Audrey Hepburn pop art tee! It's four different coloured silk screens of Audrey as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and I must admit it's a pretty cute shirt (as you can see). For the unbeatable price of $9.99 it's hard to come up with an excuse to not buy it.

Audrey Hepburn film reels

PrinceCharmingxoxo from You Tube was charming enough to upload a fantastic array of British newsreel clips featuring our one and only Audrey! The clip runs at 10 minutes, and is mostly footage we haven't seen before: Audrey at the premieres of My Fair Lady, War and Peace, and the Nun's Story, along with footage from the Academy Awards and a very early (uncredited) appearance that you won't believe! So watch the clip, and then drop PrinceCharming a note saying thanks for the goodies.

Audrey Hepurn en français

A new video clip on You Tube has an interview of Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer arriving in France (possibly at Orly?) and having a short interview with a woman. It's a bit noisy and distracting in here right now so I can't concentrate with my limited French, but I did hear that they flew in from Amsterdam, that Audrey had a new contract with Paramount studios, and that the interviewer comments on Mr. Famous's hair, since Mel was playing with it throughout. If anyone has better French (and a quieter domain) than me, please feel free to post a better translation in the comments section!



Oh, and your speakers aren't broken. The sound only comes in at the beginning of the interview, after the fellow with the Hasselblad camera snaps a picture, and the sound is very soft.

Edit: The user who originally posted this video has had their account suspended, so I am now hosting the video myself.