If you’ve only watched the film adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you might be wondering what it has to do with LGBTQIA+ history.
Truman Capote never made any secret of his homosexuality and was one of the most celebrated authors and socialites of his era, but the connections to his most famous work are less widely known.
Set in New York, the film follows aspiring writer Paul Varjak and his relationship with his enigmatic neighbour, Holly Golightly. Paul is supported financially by an older married woman described as his “interior decorator”, while Holly has connections to organised crime. The film adaptation presents the story as a romantic comedy.
In Capote’s original 1958 novella, however, the story and characters are markedly different. The character known as Paul in the film remains unnamed, much of the narrative is told in flashback, and there are suggestions that he has relationships with other men.
The original story is also set in the 1940s rather than the early 1960s. It includes the significant character Joe Bell, a bartender with whom the narrator shares stories about Holly Golightly.
The novella was first published in Esquire magazine in 1958. During its development, Capote originally named the central character Connie Gustafson before ultimately settling on Holly Golightly.
Over the years, numerous women have been suggested as inspirations for the character, something Capote jokingly referred to as the “Holly Golightly Sweepstakes”.
Among those claimed as inspirations were Gloria Vanderbilt, Oona O’Neill, Carol Grace, Maeve Brennan and Dorian Leigh.
In 2009, a new stage adaptation opened in London with Anna Friel in the lead role. In 2013, Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke played Holly Golightly in Richard Greenberg’s Broadway adaptation.
The Broadway production attracted attention for a scene in which the lead characters shared a bath. Both productions adhered more closely to Capote’s original novella than the famous film adaptation.
Greenberg’s adaptation later transferred to London’s West End in 2016, where it was staged as a play with music. Singer and actor Pixie Lott took on the role of Holly Golightly.
Frank Ocean celebrates his birthday today. The musician was born Christopher Edwin Breaux in Long Beach, California, in 1987.
Ocean began his career as a songwriter for other artists before joining the Odd Future collective in 2010.
He released his debut album, Channel Orange, in 2012, followed by Blonde in 2016. Fans have been eagerly awaiting new music ever since.
In 2012, Ocean published an open letter on his Tumblr page recounting unrequited feelings he had for a young man when he was 19 years old. He described the relationship as his first true love.
His letter acknowledging his same-sex attraction was warmly received by fans and fellow artists.
Following the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, Ocean wrote about his sadness and frustration surrounding the tragedy. He also shared memories of hearing his father make homophobic and transphobic comments when he was six years old.
Ocean’s father later launched a defamation lawsuit against the musician, seeking US$14.5 million in damages. The matter proceeded to trial, where the court found in Ocean’s favour.
It’s now been a decade since Ocean’s last album was released. He has put out a few singles in the intervening years. It was recently announced that he’d just wrapped filming on his first movie where Ocean serves as the director.
