Roman Holiday (1953)

Roman Holiday
Directed by William Wyler
Written by Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dighton, and Dalton Trumbo; story by Trumbo
1953/USA
Paramount Pictures
Repeat viewing/Netflix Rental
#278 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Irving Radovich: She’s fair game, Joe. It’s always open season on princesses.[/box]

This film is precious for introducing the world to Audrey Hepburn.  That it is also one of the all-time best romantic comedies is just gravy.

Princess Anne (Hepburn), the heir to the throne of an unnamed country is on a tour of European capitals.  By the time she and her entourage arrive in Rome she is stressed out and bored out of her skull.  She longs to at least see what a normal life is like.  She gets so upset that the doctor is called and prescribes a dose of sleeping pills.  Before the drug takes effect, Anne seizes the chance to escape in the back of a delivery van.

She had planned to be gone for just an hour but ends up snoozing by a fountain. Reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) sees her and kindly tries to see her home.  This proves to be impossible and she ends up sacking out in his apartment.  He oversleeps as well, too late to cover the princess’s press conference.  It is then he discovers the identity of his houseguest and embarks on a scheme to cash in on this exclusive material.

Anne tells Joe she has run away from school and Joe gives Anne some vague line about who he is.  The remainder of the film shows Joe helping Anne discover the joys of Rome. Of course, the two fall in love in the process.  Is a fairy tale ending in the cards?  With Eddie Albert as Joe’s photographer friend.

Hepburn was born to be a princess and a major movie star.  She is irresistible in this movie.  I had forgotten that there are some serious moments and she is excellent at those as well.  Rome never looked this beautiful in black and white.  Recommended.

Audrey Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress.  Roman Holiday also won the awards for Best Motion Picture Story and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.  The award was originally credited to Ian McLellan who fronted for Dalton Trumbo.  The Oscar was post-humously presented to Trumbo’s widow in 1993.  The film was nominated in the categories of:  Best Picture; Best Director; Best Supporting Actor (Albert); Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White; and Best Film Editing.

Trailer