Review: 'Audrey Hepburn 7-Movie Collection' a Must For Cinema Lovers

In 1999, the American Film Institute released a list of the 50 greatest American screen legends by gender. Audrey Hepburn was number three (behind Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis). While lists like these are arbitrary and ever changing, Hepburn will always be considered one of the most significant cinema stars of all time. One need only look at her most iconic roles. And thanks to Paramount's new Blu-ray "Audrey Hepburn 7-Movie Collection" box set, we can. Here is a collection of five of her best performances, along with two other terrific turns. All have been previously released on Blu-ray, except "Paris When It Sizzles."

Say what you want about Blake Edwards' "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), but Hepburn's captivating and style-defining performance as Holly Golightly cannot be underestimated and gets better with age. Author Truman Capote may have wanted Marilyn Monroe in the role, but Hepburn makes it her own, and her rendering of Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's "Moon River" is absolute magic (and came close to being excised from the film). The Extras are fab. The transfer is terrif. The party is wild! And the cat is, well, cat. Nominated for five Oscars (winner of two for music), including Best Actress for Audrey.

Speaking of Academy Awards, the grand winner of 1964, George Cukor's "My Fair Lady," received a whopping 12 nominations and eight awards, but its leading lady, Audrey Hepburn, was egregiously overlooked because of a brouhaha she had nothing to do with. Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza Doolittle onstage, but the studio never had any intention of casting her. Strike one for Audrey – doesn't matter that she brilliantly embodied the poor Cockney gal turned society lady. Strike two was about her vocals. She had every intention of doing some of her own singing but was dubbed – against her will – by the powers that be. (She was said to have stormed off the set the day she found out). Vocals of two songs are on the bonus content that validate Hepburn all these years later and prove she was victimized, and should have outright won that Oscar!

Anyone who thought Hepburn couldn't sing need only watch Stanley Donen's rousing "Funny Face," from 1957, where she teams with Fred Astaire and delivers a sultry vocal of Gershwin's "How Long Has This Been Going On?" Set in Paris, the dazzling movie satirizes the fashion industry, as well as beatnik culture. The great Kay Thompson steals some scenes, but it's Audrey by whom you're mesmerized.

Richard Quine's "Paris When It Sizzles" might be considered the bastard child of this collection. Upon release it was mercilessly panned by the critics, and it's the one film that isn't as perfectly restored as the others, with noticeable lines and fuzziness. It's a shame, really, because it's actually a sweet and often stingingly funny comedy that pokes fun at many of Hepburn and co-star, William Holden's, previous films. To quote "Paris" quoting "Tiffany's," "I must say, the mind reels!"

Hepburn's star debut, William Wyler's 1953 rom-com "Roman Holiday," co-starring Gregory Peck, brought Audrey her first and only Oscar (and the film 10 nominations). It remains one of the great films of the '50s.

(More via my review of the Blu-ray here:
https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/story.php?295559)

Holden's first film with Hepburn was Billy Wilder's "Sabrina" (1954), which also starred Humphrey Bogart (after Cary Grant pulled out a week before filming). As the poor daughter of a chauffeur who journeys to Paris, then returns a gorgeous swan, attracting the attention of rich playboy Holden, Hepburn is enthralling, enchanting, and enrapturing. Even the cringe-worthy age difference between Bogart and Hepburn can't take away from this gem. Nominated for six Oscars, including Best Actress, the combination of Wilder and Hepburn proved phenomenal.

King Vidor's "War and Peace" was the only film in the set I hadn't seen. The misguided casting of mostly Hollywood actors (especially Henry Fonda) in the Tolstoy classic, set against Napoleon's invasion of Russia, turned me off. But accent issues notwithstanding, the film is quite decent (although the script is fairly facile), mostly because the focus is largely on Natasha, and Hepburn brings a grace but also a sexiness to the role that she hadn't yet shown – especially with her scenes with Vittorio Gassman. "War and Peace" marked the only time she appeared onscreen with husband Mel Ferrer. The film was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Director.

This Blu-ray is a must for all cinema lovers, as an introduction, a tribute, or an addition to any film library.

Audrey Hepburn had something remarkable, something undefinable that the camera was able to capture – a radiance, an effervescence, a mystery, a sadness, a euphoria. She was incomparable.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Bonus Content:
� Commentary by producer Richard Shepherd
� A Golightly Gathering
� Henry Mancini: More Than Music
� Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
� Breakfast at Tiffany's: The Making of a Classic
� It's So Audrey: A Style Icon
� Behind the Gates: The Tour
� Brilliance in a Blue Box
� Audrey's Letter to Tiffany
� Original Theatrical Trailer
� Galleries

"My Fair Lady"

Bonus Content:
� More Loverly Than Ever: The Making of My Fair Lady Then & Now
� 1963 Production Kick-Off Dinner
� Los Angeles Premiere 10/28/1964
� British Premiere
� George Cukor Directs Baroness Bina Rothschild
� Rex Harrison Radio Interview
� Production Tests
� Alternate Audrey Hepburn Vocals
� Galleries
� Comments on a Lady
� Theatrical Featurettes
� Story of a Lady
� Design for a Lady
� The Fairest Fair Lady
� Trailers
� Awards

"Funny Face"

Bonus Content:
� Kay Thompson: Think Pink!
� This is VistaVision
� Fashion Photographers Exposed
� The Fashion Designer and His Muse
� Parisian Dreams
� Original Theatrical Trailer

"Sabrina"

Bonus Content:
� Audrey Hepburn: Fashion Icon
� Sabrina's World
� Supporting Sabrina
� William Holden: The Paramount Years
� Sabrina Documentary
� Behind the Gates: Camera

"Roman Holiday"

Bonus Content:
� Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday
� Behind the Gates: Costumes
� Rome with a Princess
� Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years
� Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist
� Paramount in the '50s
� Remembering Audrey
� Theatrical Trailers
� Galleries

Audrey Hepburn 7-Movie Collection is currently available on Blu-ray.