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The Audrey Hepburn Story
2000
Jennifer Love-Hewitt (I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) stars as the legendary Audrey Hepburn in this ambitious made-for-TV bio-pic that focuses on the extraordinary events that transformed a scampish war refugee into one of the most beloved actresses of all time. Framed around her battles to win the affections of the catty .. Read more
| Starring | Jennifer Love Hewitt, Frances Fisher, Eric McCormack, Keir Dullea |
|---|---|
| Director | Steven Robman |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Audrey Hepburn Story
Jennifer Love-Hewitt (I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) stars as the legendary Audrey Hepburn in this ambitious made-for-TV bio-pic that focuses on the extraordinary events that transformed a scampish war refugee into one of the most beloved actresses of all time. Framed around her battles to win the affections of the catty Truman Capote (Michael J.Burg) during the filming of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S in New York City, the film employs flashbacks to recount Hepburn's rise to fame -- offset by the many trials of her personal life and her relationships with millionaire James Hanson (Peter Giles), actor William Holden (Gabriel Macht), and producer Mel Ferrer (Eric McCormack - WILL & GRACE).
| Starring | Jennifer Love Hewitt, Frances Fisher, Eric McCormack, Keir Dullea, Gabriel Macht, Peter Giles |
|---|---|
| Director | Steven Robman |
| Studio | ODYSSEY VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 9 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: not available Production year: 2000 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Now that TV movie-makers have explored every possible angle on the Marilyn Monroe story, they have turned their attention to other actresses. Here, the unfortunate focus is Audrey Hepburn (film-makers, of course, rarely choose a subject who is still alive and able to complain). Buxom young star Jennifer Love Hewitt is fun and witty in films such as Heartbreakers, but she's neither gamine nor delicately classy enough to embody Hepburn, though she has a fair stab at the emotional points of the actress?s life. Told in flashback from the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, the film follows Hepburn's experiences in wartime Holland and her early career. While the tribute is an honourable one, there isn?t enough drama to maintain interest until the end.
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Most helpful member's review
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Rise of a Hollywood starlet
The trouble with this film is that it just doesn?t quite hold your attention. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Emmy Rosen both play the role of the Hollywood film star as she struggles to find her place in the world, and, although the two of them are very beautiful and carry off good accents and show similar mannerisms to that of Hepburn, they just do not have her charm. Audrey was an incredibly enchanting woman, perhaps the most the film industry has ever seen, and therein lies the problem with this film: finding someone to accurately portray her is probably an exercise in futility.
The film is told via a series of flashbacks into the life of Hepburn whilst she is on the set of ?Breakfast at Tiffanys?; her nazi-sympathiser father abandoning her and her mother while she was very young, growing up and surviving in Holland during World War Two, getting noticed as a dancer in London, and breaking into film.
All these meaty issues should make good viewing, but the style of direction never really lets us in to see the true Audrey Hepburn. We watch these events happening to our heroine from the perspective of a bystander or someone simply passing by, and as a result never truly get involved with the film or sympathise with the lead character. Pacing is also a major problem; there are various stages, but the film doesn?t seem to go very far, nor does it build to a climax of any sort. She just simply gets older and makes more films (this we knew).
The film seems to suggest that Audrey Hepburn was very much like the character Holly Golightly, whom she portrayed in ?Breakfast at Tifffanys?, in that she was unsure of her place in the world, and perhaps scared to love or be loved. This may not be true, but it does lend a nice angle to the piece. Also quite poignant is her continuing search for her father, who she thinks about constantly, and her love for her mother, who brought her through the war and supported her throughout all her ambitions.
It is a passable film, and not an incredibly bad way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon, but even after two hours of viewing and finding out that she grew up in occupied Holland and wanted to be a prima ballerina, you are still not any closer to discovering who Audrey Hepburn really was. So give up. Don?t bother. You?ll never truly know, and perhaps that just adds to her mystery. Leave this one on the shelf and watch one of her own films instead, such as the delightful ?Roman Holiday?, or the enchanting ?Breakfast at Tiffanys? and get to know her through her own work, and you?ll see why this wonderful actress truly is one of Hollywood?s greats. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
An Insult to Audrey Hepburn! Unwatchable
Jennifer Love Hewitt can only have got the part of Audrey Hepburn because she was co executive producer. I have nothing against Jennifer, she is a beautiful young girl and perfect in girl-next-door roles but attempting to portray Audrey Hepburn she was absolutely dire!
Physically she bears no resemblance to Audrey in her face or figure. In terms of acting, her attempts to mimick Audrey's accent and mannerisms were pitiful. Audrey had more elegance, refinement and charm in her little finger than Jennifer has in her entire being.
The supporting actors put Jennifer to shame especially Emmy Rossum (most recently Christine in Phantom of the Opera) who played the teenage Audrey and Frances Fisher who played her mother.
The characterisation of Audrey was disappointingly superficial and the film was painfully slow moving. I only forced myself to watch it to the end in the hope that it would improve and so that I could give a review based on the complete film.
Do not waste 133 minutes of your life watching this!
Please will another company make a biography of Miss Hepburn with an appropriate actor in the leading role such as Liv Tyler or Claire Forlani? -
News and features
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Hewitt hails Hepburn as she turns 30
- 24 Feb 2009
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt dazzled guests at her 30th birthday party on Saturday (21Feb09) - by attending as Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn. The actress, who played Hepburn in TV movie The Audrey Hepburn Story, hosted tea and dinner celebrations at the Montage Beverly Hills - and chose old Hollywood glamour as her style for her big day. It began with a croissant and coffee at Beverly Hills jeweller Tiffany's, where she dressed as her heroine's character Holly Golightly for a real breakfast... Read more
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The Audrey Hepburn Story
Jennifer Love-Hewitt (I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) stars as the legendary Audrey Hepburn in this ambitious made-for-TV bio-pic that focuses on the extraordinary events that transformed a scampish war refugee into one of the most beloved actresses of all time. Framed around her battles to win ...
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