Fifth Avenue, 5:00 Am :--Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany's, And The Dawn Of The Modern Woman

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Wasson, who wrote on the career of writer-director Blake Edwards in *A Splurch in the Kisser*, tightens his focus for a closeup of Edwards's memorable *Breakfast at Tiffany's*, which received five Oscar nominations (with two wins). Interviewing Edwards and others, he skillfully interweaves key events during the making of this cinema classic. He begins (and ends) with Truman Capote, whose novel was initially regarded as unadaptable by the producers, since they hadn't the faintest idea how the hell they were going to take a novel with no second act, a nameless gay protagonist, a motiveless drama, and an unhappy ending and turn it into a Hollywood movie. The flow of Wasson's words carries the reader from pre-production to on-set feuds and conflicts, while also noting Hepburn's impact on fashion (Givenchy's little black dress), Hollywood glamour, sexual politics, and the new morality. Always stingy with praise, Capote dismissed the finished film as a mawkish valentine to New York City, but one feels he would have been entranced by Wasson's prismatic approach as he walks a perilous path between the analytic interpretation and the imaginative one. The result deserves Capote's nonfiction novel label. Recapturing an era, this evocative factual re-creation reads like carefully crafted fiction. *(June)* Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review “So smart and entertaining it should come with its own popcorn.” (People ) “Wasson offers enough drama to occupy anyone for days...The whole thing reads like a cool sip of water.” (Daily News ) “*Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.* offers lots of savory tidbits [from the making of *Breakfast at Tiffany’s*]. Mr. Wasson brings a lively and impudent approach to his subject.” (Wall Street Journal ) “Sam Wasson is a fabulous social historian...[*Fifth Avenue, 5 AM*] is as melancholy and glittering as Capote’s story of Holly Golightly.” (The New Yorker ) “This splendid new book is more than a mere ‘making-of’ chronicle. Wasson has pulled it off with verve, intelligence, and a consistent ring of truth...compulsively readable. *Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.* is both enjoyable and informative: everything a film book ought to be.” (Leonard Maltin, author of Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen ) “A breezy tale of dresses and breakfast pastries, this is not.... The subtexts of *Breakfast at Tiffany’s*—materialism, sexual freedom—were decidedly more complicated.” (Women's Wear Daily ) “A brilliant chronicle of the creation of *Breakfast at Tiffany’s*. Wasson has woven the whole so deftly that it reads like a compulsively page-turning novel. This is a memorable achievement.” (Peter Bogdanovich ) “Sam Wasson’s exquisite portrait of Audrey Hepburn peels backs her sweet facade to reveal a much more complicated and interesting woman. He also captures a fascinating turning point in American history— when women started to loosen their pearls, and their inhibitions. I devoured this book.” (Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City ) “Rich in incident and set among the glitterati of America’s most glamorous era, the book reads like a novel...[Wasson] has assembled a sparkling time capsule of old Hollywood magic and mythmaking.” (Kirkus Reviews ) “Anyone even slightly interested in Capote/Hepburn/*Breakfast at Tiffany’s* will delight in [Wasson’s] account.” (USA Today ) “A fascination with fascination is one way of describing Wasson’s interest in a film that not only captures the sedate elegance of a New York long gone, but that continues to entrance as a love story, a style manifesto, and a way to live.” (New York magazine ) “[We] couldn’t put down Sam Wasson’s new book, *Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.*.... Along with juicy film gossip, the book offers behind-the-scenes insight on how Hepburn and designer Hubert de Givenchy created Holly Golightly’s iconic style.” (AOL Stylelist ) “Sam Wasson unfolds the dramatic story of the film’s creation. He also offers a fascinating slice of social history.” (Arrive Magazine ) “Reading a book about a movie is seldom as entertaining as watching the film, but Wasson’s is the rare exception.” (Christian Science Monitor ) “Reads like carefully crafted fiction...[Wasson] carries the reader from pre-production to on-set feuds and conflicts, while also noting Hepburn’s impact on fashion (Givenchy’s little black dress), Hollywood glamour, sexual politics, and the new morality. Capote would have been entranced.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) ) “Crammed with irresistible tidbits...[Wasson’s] book winds up as well-tailored as the kind of little black dress that *Breakfast at Tiffany’s* made famous.” (New York Times ) “Wasson’s story is part encyclopedia, part valentine, and worth reading just to find out what exactly went into making the amazing party scene.” (The Huffington Post ) “A bonbon of a book...as well tailored as the little black dress the movie made famous.” (Janet Maslin, New York Times ) “The anecdotes are numerous and deftly told. This well-researched, entertaining page-turner should appeal to a broad audience, particularly those who enjoy film history that focuses on the human factors involved in the creative process while also drawing on larger social and cultural contexts.” (Library Journal )

audrey Hepburn Is An Icon Like No Other, Yet The Image Many Of Us Have Of Audrey—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. The First Complete Account Of The Making Of breakfast At Tiffany's, fifth Avenue, 5 A.m. Reveals Little-known Facts About The Cinema Classic: Truman Capote Desperately Wanted Marilyn Monroe For The Leading Role; Director Blake Edwards Filmed Multiple Endings; Hepburn Herself Felt Very Conflicted About Balancing The Roles Of Mother And Movie Star. 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 Late Fifties 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. Indeed, Cultural Touchstones Like sex And The City Owe A Debt Of Gratitude To breakfast At Tiffany's.

in This Meticulously Researched Gem Of A Book, Wasson Delivers Us From The Penthouses Of The Upper East Side To The Pools Of Beverly Hills, Presenting breakfast At Tiffany's As We Have Never Seen It Before—through The Eyes Of Those Who Made It. Written With Delicious Prose And Considerable Wit, fifth Avenue, 5 A.m. Shines New Light On A Beloved Film And Its Incomparable Star.

the New York Times - Janet Maslin

this Alluring Little Book Is Devoted To The Contradictions That Pervade Breakfast At Tiffany's: The Contrivances That Kept It So Frothy, The Weirdly Backhanded Feminist Message (holly Was Certainly Free Spirited) And The Unusual Place Occupied By This Sprite, Her Evening Gown And Her 5 A.m. Fifth Avenue Danish In The History Of American Film…[wasson's] Book Winds Up As Well-tailored As The Kind Of Little Black Dress That Breakfast At Tiffany's Made Famous.

EDITORIAL REVIEW: Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Audrey—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. The first complete account of the making of *Breakfast at Tiffany's*, *Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.* reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic: Truman Capote desperately wanted Marilyn Monroe for the leading role; director Blake Edwards filmed multiple endings; Hepburn herself felt very conflicted about balancing the roles of mother and movie star. 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 late fifties 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. Indeed, cultural touchstones like *Sex and the City* owe a debt of gratitude to *Breakfast at Tiffany's*. In this meticulously researched gem of a book, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills, presenting *Breakfast at Tiffany's* as we have never seen it before—through the eyes of those who made it. Written with delicious prose and considerable wit, *Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.* shines new light on a beloved film and its incomparable star. History,General,Performing Arts,History & Criticism,Film & Video,Films; cinema,Film & Video - General,Cinema,Pop Culture,Film: Book,Pop Arts,1929-1993,Social History,Film; TV & Radio,Film & Video - History & Criticism,Breakfast at Tiffany's (Motion picture),Hepburn; Audrey,Film And Society,Motion Pictures (Specific Aspects),Women's Studies - History,History - General History,Hepburn; Audrey;

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2010

"So smart and entertaining it should come with its own popcorn" – People

"A bonbon of a book... As well tailored as the little black dress the movie made famous." – Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Sam Wasson is a fabulous social historian." – The New Yorker

"Reads like carefully crafted fiction...[Wasson] carries the reader from pre-production to on-set feuds and conflicts, while also noting Hepburn's impact on fashion (Givenchy's little black dress), Hollywood glamour, sexual politics, and the new morality. Capote would have been entranced." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Sam Wasson's exquisite portrait of Audrey Hepburn peels backs her sweet facade to reveal a much more complicated and interesting woman. He also captures a fascinating turning point in American history— when women started to loosen their pearls, and their inhibitions. I devoured this book." — Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson is the first ever complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's. With a cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, director Blake Edwards, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the late fifties, before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the nation, changing fashion, film, and sex, for good. With delicious prose and considerable wit, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills presenting Breakfast at Tiffany's as we have never seen it before—through the eyes of those who made it.

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of her--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. The first complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, this book reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic, and immerses us in the America of the late fifties 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.--From publisher description Thinking it, 1951-1953 Wanting it, 1953-1955 Seeing it, 1955-1958 Touching it, 1958-1960 Liking it, 1960 Doing It, October 2nd 1960 , November 11th 1960 Loving It, 1961 Wanting More, The 60s.