Homage Presentation

Breakfast at Tiffany’s directed by Blake Edwards was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012. The film was directed by Blake Edwards and released in 1961 by Paramount Pictures. Blake Edwards is known primarily as a director of comedy, but has also directed dramas and detective films.  Edwards is most famous for his slap-stick comedy in The Pink Panther.  Some of this humor can also be seen within multiple scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. One such example would be in the “pop-out lighter scene” of The Pink Panther and the party scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 

However, the scene I am most interested in is the balcony scene.

Edwards ‘attention to eyeline is obvious. He always uses soft lighting and soft focus as is common throughout older movies. I love the framing of Paul as he is looking out his window at Holly. The lines from the fire escape perfectly frame Paul as he is leaning out the window. Additionally, the fire escape adds more depth to the shot. As the shot switches to one of Holly sitting in her window playing her guitar, the framing of the window is used as a vertex to draw your eye to Holly.  Again, the parts of the fire escape as well as the shadowing on the brick wall adds depth to the scene. There is not a lot of action within the scene, which I believe is fitting for the song that is played in the background. When the scene first opens up in Paul’s apartment, there are many objects that add depth to the scene. This includes the lamp on the left side of the scene, the hanging on the wall, the many crumpled up pieces of paper, and the litter scattered across his desk.