If diamonds are a girl´s best friend, then why did poor Marilyn Monroe turn down the iconic role as Holly Golightly in the film adaptation of Truman Capote´s classic novella Breakfast at Tiffany´s?
As Valentine´s Day rolls around again, is it time to dust off the diamond and get down on one knee or take that special person for the Hollywood treatment in Tiffany & Co?
Whether you find yourself buying diamonds for your significant other or window shopping like Audrey Hepburn´s character in the classic 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Valentine´s Day is upon us again and with it, comes; chocolates, flowers, Hallmark cards, poetry, jewellery and romantic films.
Certainly when it comes to jewellery and romantic films, you could satisfy your hunger with Breakfast at Tiffany´s or as it is known in Spain, Desayuno con Dinamitas.
In the shadow of Trump Tower, the famous Fifth Avenue jeweller offers first class service to their customers but before you book a first class ticket to fly to New York, remember there are actually two Tiffany´s stores here in Madrid.
The Tiffany website lists two stores on Calle José Ortega y Gasset, 10 and in El Corte Inglés, Calle de Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde 79.
Diamonds are forever and the classic Truman Capote novella about a writer who moves into a new building with a nameless cat, careless actress/ socialite and their poor asian neighbour continues to inspire us to this day.
Almost a quarter century ago, the band Deep Blue Something released their song Breakfast at Tiffany´s with the lyrics:
And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany’s? She said I think I remember the film.
And as I recall I think, we both kind o' liked it. And I said well that's, the one thing we've got.
The classic black and white image of Audrey Hepburn endures to this day. Holly Golightly was not an easy role for the introverted Hepburn to play but the film has stood the test of time as this classic romantic comedy continues to entertain us.
Even if Breakfast at Tiffany´s isn´t something you have ever seen or plan to watch on Valentine´s Day. You can’t escape the iconic image of Audrey Hebburn, as fragrances sell their scents with her timeless image and stationary products sell notebooks with Hepburn holding a cigarette holder.
With George Peppard playing the character Paul Varjak, most men will recognise him as the actor who played Col. Hannibal Smith in the TV series The A Team. I love it when a romantic comedy comes together. George Peppard trades cigars for cigarettes as the actors chain smoke, through their roles with Hepburn smoking from an elegant cigarette holder.
Hepburn´s Holly Golightly character is a socialite determined to marry rich and with no job, she is dependent on rich men to wine and dine her. Truman Capote apparently styled her as an American geisha even if her very forward, nonchalance in getting dressed in front of her new neighbour could have cast poor Norma Jean as a call girl but I am sure that Monroe would have loved to have had the chance to wear The Tiffany Diamond, as Hepburn did in publicity shots for the film.
This difficult role of a quiet spoken extrovert, was not easy for Hepburn but the character of Holly Golightly, earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.
That was not the only Oscar nomination the film received and the film even won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
Sung in the film by Audrey Hepburn Moon River went down in Hollywood history as one of the most memorable songs. The film also received nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Stepping into Tiffany´s Madrid, I wanted to see if it was possible to purchase one of the iconic blue boxes to go with an engagement ring that my mother had given me. After three years together with my girlfriend Anna, Anita Dinamita as she is known by her friends.
A better understanding of the history of Tiffany & Co would have saved me some embarrassment as you cannot buy they signature blue boxes, only receive them.
The staff, explained of course that they could only provide the box for Tiffany rings but invited me to arrange an appointment for my girlfriend with complimentary champagne.
I better pop the question before popping any champagne but I think, Valentine´s Day might be better spent with some popcorn and a classic film. I´ll suggest Breakfast at Tiffany´s, because as I recall, she said, she liked it and that´s the one thing we've got.
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but the way to a man´s heart is through his stomach so why not compromise and enjoy desayuno con diamantes, breakfast with diamonds?
A little more explosive that diamonds, I will have breakfast with Anita Dinamita. The mighty Anna Dynamite.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Happy Valentine´s Day everyone.
Originally written in 2016 for the February edition of a magazine in Madrid.
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