On Audrey Hepburn: An Opinionated Guide

Cohan (Hollywood Musicals) takes an accessible, opinionated, and entertaining look at the career of Audrey Hepburn, tracing his curiosity about her to her distinctive voice, charisma, and unique features. Cohan begins with Hepburn’s early years: a polyglot without a mother tongue, a dancer whose growth was hampered by war and famine, and her minor roles in early 1950s British films. Then came the “fairy tale” films that cemented Hepburn’s star quality, movies such as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, and Love in the Afternoon, in which she charmed much older men (Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper). Her next film phase included films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, How To Steal a Million, and My Fair Lady, in which her characters were now sophisticated women. Cohan also explores her roles in thrillers, portraying women facing danger with unique empowerment (Wait Until Dark, Charade), and her later dramas (Two for the Road; They All Laughed), with understated and mesmerizing performances showcasing her often-forgotten skills as an actress.