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- Breakfast at Tiffany's: Channel 5-ish Cut
Breakfast at Tiffany's: Channel 5-ish Cut
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Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1961
Original Running Time:
115
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
111
Time Cut:
4
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
Removes a cringeworthy character that nobody can really defend the inclusion of from a creative perspective.
Intention:
After doing a more aggressive edit of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to conform it to the Capote novella as much as possible, it was an easy job to make a version that addressed the issue that prevents a large number of people from properly enjoying it, namely Mickey Rooney’s infamous portrayal of the upstairs neighbour Mr Yunioshi.
Apart from the obvious miscasting, the dignified figure in the book (albeit with only one short appearance and a few mentions) was turned into the bumbling "comic relief" onscreen in half-a-dozen scenes. Apart from being offensive, I do not know anybody who finds him funny here in the slightest, Paramount Pictures seems to think this too and all recent home media has included a special feature putting the character into historical context.
Partway through doing the edit I found that the UK TV channel Channel 5 had already done something similar in 2022, on examination I found that it was very similar to mine in some ways, hence the edit title.
Apart from the obvious miscasting, the dignified figure in the book (albeit with only one short appearance and a few mentions) was turned into the bumbling "comic relief" onscreen in half-a-dozen scenes. Apart from being offensive, I do not know anybody who finds him funny here in the slightest, Paramount Pictures seems to think this too and all recent home media has included a special feature putting the character into historical context.
Partway through doing the edit I found that the UK TV channel Channel 5 had already done something similar in 2022, on examination I found that it was very similar to mine in some ways, hence the edit title.
Additional Notes:
This edit has been done the sake of being able to enjoy the film without being distracted, not to bury the original, as if this had a chance of doing that anyway! Certain aspects of the past may make one uncomfortable, but progress is not made by turning a blind eye.
Special Thanks:
Thanks to the Silver Screen Samurai and Dwight Fry for the post in the "Fantasia Cuts" thread that sparked my interest in doing the edit, later realised that I probably saw some of the comments in older threads from other members. These include lapis molari, TM2YC, catferoze and mnkykungfu, thank you and any others who've kept the idea floating about.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
All Mr Yunioshi scenes removed, this necessitated a few other trims but nothing major has been cut and the story remains the same. The character is still referred to but is now invisible.
Exported in Full HD with 5.1 audio and English subtitles. Added a little extra text (including some untranslated French, which I can understand a literal few words of) where it was previously missing.
Exported in Full HD with 5.1 audio and English subtitles. Added a little extra text (including some untranslated French, which I can understand a literal few words of) where it was previously missing.
Cuts and Additions:
• 0:00:00 Inserted personal plate and fanedit disclaimer
• 0:01:40 Modified Mickey Rooney’s credit so it now reads “And not starring…”, took clean background and remade text with extracted letters and put a layer of grain on top to help blend the elements.
• 0:03:16 Removed Mr Yunioshi being woken up.
• 0:03:27 Removed Mr Yunioshi from scene of Holly arriving home with Sid.
• 0:03:45 Removed exchange between Holly and Mr Yunioshi.
• 0:12:44 Trimmed a couple of shots of Holly moving her sunglasses, to reduce continuity errors in their positioning (tried cutting further to alleviate completely but the shots felt too rushed then).
• 0:13:35 Faded from Paul and 2E to Holly climbing out of the window in her dressing gown, skipping Mr Yunioshi complaining about the sound of the gramophone and preceding shot of Holly in her dress.
• 0:32:38 Cut Mr Yunioshi being disturbed by the party noise.
• 0:33:35 Cut Mr Yunioshi calling to complain about the noise, as well as Paul putting the phone down and extinguishing his cigarette (Channel 5 version chose the opposite approach, but I prefer it this way).
• 0:34:59 Cut Mr Yunioshi reacting to Mag Wildwood falling down.
• 0:58:04 Cut Mr Yunioshi and relevant conversation afterwards (used a fade to soften the transition, hard cut in Channel 5 TV version).
• 1:25:46 Removed Mr Yunioshi in the bath.
• 1:26:04 Removed dripping wet Mr Yunioshi and first appearance of Paul coming downstairs (Channel 5 TV version made it appear as if he is the one dripping water).
• 1:35:38 Removed Mr Yunioshi from scene where Holly and Paul are arrested.
• 0:01:40 Modified Mickey Rooney’s credit so it now reads “And not starring…”, took clean background and remade text with extracted letters and put a layer of grain on top to help blend the elements.
• 0:03:16 Removed Mr Yunioshi being woken up.
• 0:03:27 Removed Mr Yunioshi from scene of Holly arriving home with Sid.
• 0:03:45 Removed exchange between Holly and Mr Yunioshi.
• 0:12:44 Trimmed a couple of shots of Holly moving her sunglasses, to reduce continuity errors in their positioning (tried cutting further to alleviate completely but the shots felt too rushed then).
• 0:13:35 Faded from Paul and 2E to Holly climbing out of the window in her dressing gown, skipping Mr Yunioshi complaining about the sound of the gramophone and preceding shot of Holly in her dress.
• 0:32:38 Cut Mr Yunioshi being disturbed by the party noise.
• 0:33:35 Cut Mr Yunioshi calling to complain about the noise, as well as Paul putting the phone down and extinguishing his cigarette (Channel 5 version chose the opposite approach, but I prefer it this way).
• 0:34:59 Cut Mr Yunioshi reacting to Mag Wildwood falling down.
• 0:58:04 Cut Mr Yunioshi and relevant conversation afterwards (used a fade to soften the transition, hard cut in Channel 5 TV version).
• 1:25:46 Removed Mr Yunioshi in the bath.
• 1:26:04 Removed dripping wet Mr Yunioshi and first appearance of Paul coming downstairs (Channel 5 TV version made it appear as if he is the one dripping water).
• 1:35:38 Removed Mr Yunioshi from scene where Holly and Paul are arrested.
User reviews
1 review
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0(1)
Audio Editing
10.0(1)
Visual Editing
10.0(1)
Narrative
10.0(1)
Enjoyment
10.0(1)
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
I always struggle to write reviews and try to leap-frog over others whilst stealing some of their ideas. Being the first review, I'll try my best.
As I said to ParanoidAndroid in our chat, I haven't watched this on Blu-ray for around 13 years. Something didn't sit well with me on the last viewing and probably being much older now it was realising how racist and stereotypical Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr Yunioshi. From what I have read, it's a far cry from Capotes' written version of the character.
Like many fan-edits, this version is now my go-to version. The editing is seamless. Picture and sound are first rate and everyone looks so glamorous and fresh.
I can't think of anything else to say really, other than give kudos to Mr Android. Well done.
As I said to ParanoidAndroid in our chat, I haven't watched this on Blu-ray for around 13 years. Something didn't sit well with me on the last viewing and probably being much older now it was realising how racist and stereotypical Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr Yunioshi. From what I have read, it's a far cry from Capotes' written version of the character.
Like many fan-edits, this version is now my go-to version. The editing is seamless. Picture and sound are first rate and everyone looks so glamorous and fresh.
I can't think of anything else to say really, other than give kudos to Mr Android. Well done.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
I