How the cat from Breakfast at Tiffany's helped save stray animals

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

What happened to this homeless cat looks like the fulfillment of a traditional American dream - he snatched from fate that lucky ticket that led to satiety, comfort, success and a dizzying career takeoff. Do not rush to deny the importance of self-realization for cats: in the case of Orange, the bonuses were hugs with Audrey Hepburn, and friendship with one of the best Hollywood trainers. And, of course, world fame with everything that comes with it.

The beginning of the acting career of a cat

Alas, nothing is known about how his life developed until 1949 - but we can assume that it was savory - like all street stray cats at all times. Once this cat was discovered in her garden by a resident of Los Angeles - she picked up the poor fellow, washed, cured, sheltered. The cat was already incredibly lucky, but then something quite amazing happened. The thing is that in 1951 Hollywood announced a casting among cats for the main role in the film "Rhubarb" ("Rubarb") based on the novel of the same name by H. Allan Smith.

Mrs. Agnes Murray, the owner of the cat, decided to try her luck with her Orange-red ginger. True, the chances of success were small - the artist was selected from among several thousand cats from all over America. Director Arthur Lyubin needed a cat with traces of a free life - old scars on the face and an independent disposition; Orange had both. The cat was lucky again - after looking at the photographs sent by Mrs. Murray, he was selected to participate in the film.

True, in addition to Orange, a couple dozen more cats were filmed in the film - the whole point is that it would not have been possible for a single cat to withstand the filming process with its long breaks between scenes, tedious waiting and numerous tricks. Therefore, it was decided to shoot Orange in close-up scenes, making the cat the "face" of the film, and each of the stand-in cats performed their own 1-2 tricks. Thus, a cheerful, rested feline artist always appeared in the frame, and only the most attentive viewer's eye could notice the differences between the animals.

Orangey - the "face" of motion pictures

"Rhubarb" was filmed on black and white film, so the actors-cats could be of different colors, the main thing is that the final shade that appeared as a result was the same for all cats (neither black, nor white, nor two- or three-color ones were suitable). The head of the training process was Frank Inn (real name - Elias Franklin Freeman). He began his career back in the 30s as an assistant trainer for the famous dog Skippy, also a movie star.

Inn began to work with cats, each of them he taught one or two tricks. The trainer found a common language with Oranji, who sometimes behaved rather arrogantly - even if he had not yet become a movie star at that time. He could scratch and bite, fought with cats-partners on the site, and he did not stand on ceremony with two-legged partners. At the exit from the pavilion, Frank Inn began to leave the dogs so that Orange did not run away from the set, as he tried to do.

According to the plot of the novel and the film, a cat stealing golf balls attracts the attention of one millionaire. He decides to catch the animal with the help of his assistant, the venture ends successfully. Despite the fact that the cat's character is distinguished by independence and obstinacy, they become friends with a new owner. A few years later, the millionaire dies, leaving a huge fortune to Revene (this name was given to the cat), and among other things, the baseball team - though unlucky, of the outsiders. Rhubarb's guardian turns the cat into the team's mascot, the players believe that by petting the cat before the match, they will succeed - and this is exactly what happens. But this living talisman becomes the target of bookmaker intrigues: he is kidnapped; Rhubarb manages to escape. Not without an indispensable allergy to cats and even a love line, which ultimately leads to the birth of numerous kittens - the offspring of Rhubarb.

After this film, the leading actor was often called that - Rhubarb (Rubarb), but he could not officially bear this name - the rights to it belonged to the author of the novel. Therefore, in the credits of Orange throughout his career, he was called differently. Although Orange remained his mistress's pet between filming, Inn acquired the rights to study and work with him.

The most titled cat

In total, Orange-Reven has about 500 films and television programs. But in the history of cinema, he remained mainly thanks to two films - his first work and "Breakfast at Tiffany's", where he played the main role along with Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. Holly Golightly's unnamed cat became, of course, the star, the symbol of the picture. Again, it was not without backup - Frank Inn, who continued to work with Ryzhik, put together a "team" of ten cats. This time the film was in color, so the artists were all red.

It is unclear whether the film brought success to the cat or the cat to the film, but most likely, both are true. The scene in which the heroine Audrey Hepburn chases the cat into the rain is considered one of the most "repulsive" in the career of an actress. For her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn was nominated for an Oscar, and the cat won his second PATSY Awards. Since 1951, this award has been presented to animals - performers of film and television roles. Orangey became the only one to receive two prizes: for his first role and for his participation in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In the cat's filmography, you can find other famous films, including "The Incredibly Shrinking Man", "Gigot", "Anne Frank's Diary". Of course, such a job paid well: in any case, for a long-term career, the cat "earned" about a quarter of a million dollars for its trainer. Orangey lived a long life, he died at the age of at least sixteen years, apparently from old age.

His friend and trainer Frank Inn was one of the first animal rights activists in America, rescuing animals doomed to euthanasia, organizing temporary shelters for them and finding permanent homes. In this, as in his main profession, his wife Juanita Inn helped him. Frank Inn died in 2002. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills. There, nearby, lies the remains of Orange.

Audrey Hepburn also had "doubles": among the Soviet actresses found and "our" Sophia Loren.