Patricia Neal
Occupation
Actor
Breakfast At Tiffany's Review
By Don Willmott
Extraordinary
A near perfect blend of comedy, romance, and minor tragedy, Breakfast at Tiffany's is a must-see classic that, despite diversions from Truman Capote's original novel, remains his clearest statement on what it feels like to be young, ambitious, and on the make in a rapacious city full of hidden agendas.
Set in present-day 1961 (as opposed to during World War II as in the novel), the film introduces us to the gorgeous Holly Golightly (a sparkling Audrey Hepburn) as she staggers home early one morning in her little black dress and sunglasses after yet another all-night bender during which she likely doled out small favors to amorous older gentlemen in exchange for rent money. Pausing in front of Tiffany's, Holly munches a danish and sips coffee as she admires the jewelry in the window. It's an iconic movie moment. Holly sees herself as a free-spirit, a party girl, someone who, as she puts it, won't be caged by love or commitments. It's a lonely life, but it pays the bills. The'60s are on the verge of swinging.
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Hud Review
Excellent
Like Cool Hand Luke, Hud's a tough nut to crack.
Hud's a scoundrel, troublemaker, corner-cutter, and latter-day outlaw, and Paul Newman pours his soul into the memorable anti-hero. Hud works on a small ranch with his ailing father (Melvyn Douglas), upstanding teenage brother (Brandon De Wilde), and mildly tawdry housekeeper (Patricia Neal). He's rousted out of bed one morning (well, not his bed) due to an emergency at the ranch... which turns out to be a sickness among the cattle. Ultimately that is revealed to be "the worst kind" of problem... hoof and mouth disease. The entire herd will have to be shot and buried. The mass slaughter is a truly horrifying sight without being extreme in its graphicness.
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The Fountainhead Review
Excellent
Ayn Rand's own adaptation of her highly-regarded (and extremely thick) book. While I haven't read the novel (yet--it's in my stack), the film seems faithful to her work and is certainly faithful to her spirit. Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal (in her first film) do great work and have no trouble with the objectivist mentality. In the end, all questions are answered but one: What the heck is The Fountainhead?