Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition) Reviews

• Perhaps the most romantic movie ever made

  
  By ABN5K7K1TM1QA on 2004-05-16
  This was Audrey Hepburn's debut in a starring role. She was 24-years-old and had appeared in two or three other movies but just in bit parts. Here she plays a reigning European princess visiting Rome who would like an escape from her daily regime of official duties, thus the title and theme of the movie, a Roman holiday.

  Gregory Peck plays an American newspaper reporter living in the Eternal City. We first see him playing poker with his cronies, and losing. His relative "poverty" and Princess Ann's fabulous wealth and station present a formidable barrier to their ever finding true love and marital happiness. Part of the fun of the script is in seeing how this will play out and how their differences are resolved in the end. I will give you a small hint: very carefully!

  The script comes from a story by Dalton Trumbo who is perhaps best known as the author of the anti-war novel, Johnny Got His Gun. Trumbo was one of the "Hollywood Ten" who were blacklisted from working in the industry during the excesses of the McCarthy era. He went to Mexico and continued working on film scripts but under assumed names or had his scripts presented by "fronts." In this case Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for Trumbo and won an Academy Award for the story. Later the Academy awarded Trumbo a posthumous Oscar for his work.

  Long time Hollywood studio director William Wyler directed the film entirely on location in Rome. He has a formidable list of credits going well back into the silent film era including such outstanding films as Wuthering Heights (1939), The Letter (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), etc. His clear directorial style and his attention to detail work well here. The sets in Rome are charming, especially Peck's bachelor apartment. The bit players, especially Peck's landlord are excellent and the events are dreamy in just the way a romantic meeting in Rome ought to be. Wyler is especially effective in presenting Audrey Hepburn in the most flattering light and getting the audience to identify with her.

  Gregory Peck's character should be a bit of an adventurous rake who finds that love is more important than money or fame, but it is impossible for Peck to play a morally compromised character, and so even as he appears to be using Princess Ann for his own ends, his behavior is always correct. I was somewhat amused to notice that at all times Peck appears wearing a tie! Eddie Albert plays Peck's friend, a photographer/artist. It is interesting to note how Hollywood's perception of the paparazzi has changed over the years. Here blood-sucking, intrusive greed does not exist. Instead we have noble self-sacrifice!

  I have seen most of Miss Hepburn's movies and I can say that she was never more enchanting than she is here. She is gorgeous and cute at the same time, charming and impish, sweet, regal and very winning. In a sense she started at the top with this film, garnering her only Oscar as Best Actress in 1953; but as her fans know she never came down off that pedestal. Even playing poor Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964), there was never any doubt about the quality of her style and character.

  This is the most romantic film I have ever seen, perhaps partly because Miss Hepburn is so wonderful, but also because the script in a sense turns the usual woman's romantic fantasy upside down. Instead of the woman finding that the man she is in love with has fabulous wealth and position, it is the other way around!

  The ending manages to be realistic yet romantic. There is a hint of something almost spiritual beyond what happens. So convincing are Hepburn and Peck that one can almost believe the story is true; and indeed I am sure that Trumbo lifted the essentials of the plot from some ancient tale.

  I have a weakness for movies about unrequited love, or love that goes on forever, or love that is caught at some perfect moment and lives eternally in that moment. Roman Holiday is one of those near perfect movies that plays beautifully upon one of these themes.
  
  

• It's always open season on princesses

  
  By AK61LQI92GTCH on 2004-05-22
  ROMAN HOLIDAY should appeal to everyone who loves a good romance, and this one is a great one. The rest us of will be well content with the splendor of Rome and the chance to see the remarkable Audrey Hepburn in her debut movie. In other words, ROMAN HOLIDAY has something for every palate.
  The plot? Princess Ann (we're never quite sure which country she's princess of) is enduring a grueling tour of European nations. Weary to death of the royal treatment, one night Ann escapes into the Roman night. Unfortunately for her she had a while earlier been given an injection to help her sleep. The drug takes effect while she's out and about, and reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) discovers her asleep on a street bench. Believing she's inebriated, and being a gentleman, he tries to deliver her safely to her home. That plan fails and, being a gentleman, Bradley arranges for the young stranger (he doesn't learn she's the missing princess until the next scene) to sleep on the sofa in his small, one-room apartment.
  Cary Grant was originally offered the part of Joe Bradley and he turned it down. One of the dvd's specials tells us he refused the role because he didn't want to play second fiddle to an ingenue. Maybe so. It's tempting to decide, on the basis of this scene, that Peck was woefully miscast. Ann, nearly asleep on her feet, asks Bradley "Will you help me undress?" A natural enough request coming from royalty, I guess. Bradley fumbles around with her neck scarf, unties it, hands it to her and says "You can handle the rest."
  Peck plays the scene for a smile. Grant would have made it one of the highlights of the movie. After savoring the opportunity for the audience's delight he would have removed the tie and given the camera a quick peek, as if to say "Listen here, I know this is a cliched, silly situation. But doesn't this look like fun. Don't we make a handsome couple?" Grant was a supple pagan god who drank more than once from the well of hedonism, and he was always careful to bring the audience along for the good times. Peck was an Old Testament prophet, a little too stern and stiff to give himself over to pleasure.
  What Peck brings to the role is authority and a handsome arm for Hepburn to rest on. Grant would have distracted us, and ROMAN HOLIDAY is best when our attention is focused squarely on Audrey Hepburn. She delivers a tour de force performance, and you can understand the excitement she generated even after a half century.
  The specials include the documentary "Remembering ROMAN HOLIDAY", which surprised me with all the people who were involved and dropped out of the production of the movie. "Edith Head: The Paramount Years" is a short biography of the famous and talented fashion designer. "Restoring ROMAN HOLIDAY" shows us a number of before and after shots - this is a VERY clean print. There is also a trio of theatrical trailers and a stills photo gallery.
  
  

• A charming, delightful gem of a movie

  
  By A2SX6VNPSJPGP7 on 2001-05-23
  Nearly fifty years after it was made, "Roman Holiday" still brings a gleeful smile of pleasure and delight to its viewer, who will be undoubtedly charmed by this wonderful whimsy of a film. The story of a princess escaping her fairy tale life, and finding her own fairy tale outside the palace with a handsome newsman captivated audiences in 1953, and still does today.

  In her feature film debut, the delightful Audrey Hepburn shines as the gamine Princess Anne, who, loathing her tiresome, claustrophobic life as a royal family member, escapes from her caretakers while on a royal international tour in Rome. When a young newsman, Joe Bradley, (Gregory Peck) stumbles onto the naive young woman, he realizes who she is, and smelling the scoop of a lifetime, takes her on a holiday through the sights and pleasures of Rome while his photographer buddy Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert) relentlessly shoots pictures with all sorts of camouflaged gadgets. Joe and "Anya" bask in the joys of the lush city, from lunch at a sidewalk cafe (where the princess also enjoys her first cigarette) to a wild escapade on a runaway motorcycle, to a romantic moonlit dance by a lake... and before the pair realizes it, they've fallen for each other, but can they be together... a princess and a commoner?

  William Wyler directed this Oscar-winning masterpiece, nominated for, among other awards, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Eddie Albert, and winner for Audrey Hepburn as the year's Best Actress for her brilliant, utterly charming princess. A princess, indeed. Hepburn, the beautiful young gamine, is indeed every inch a princess in her sensitive and beautiful portrayal. Gregory Peck's rugged charm and humor are a perfect match for Hepburn, and the chemistry between the two is a joy to watch. The exquisite cinematography is extraordinary to see, even in black-and-white, and the lively script makes for many golden scenes: One scene in the beginning has Hepburn trying to retrieve a lost shoe during an Embassy dance, another has Hepburn getting her first haircut in an Italian salon, and the whole picture is worth the scene in which Peck dares Hepburn to put her hand into the infamous "Mouth of Truth": "Legend has it that if you're given to lying, it'll bite your hand off." Slyly demonstrating, he suddenly yells in agony as the terrified Hepburn screams. He brings his arm out with his hand disappeared, and Hepburn shrieks. But suddenly the hand pops through his coat jacket as Hepburn squeals with mock-fury. And the beautiful, beautiful scene by the lake as the two look into each other's eyes while they dance... what a heavenly feeling you get watching that scene alone.

  It's a charming film, absolutely beautiful. "Roman Holiday" is a movie about two people falling in love, and it's a movie that you will fall in love with too. This is a film to watch again and again with somebody you love... if you do, it's only that much more of a holiday.
  
  

• No one can play elegance better than Audrey.

  
  By on 1999-07-02
  I completely disagree with anyone who says this movie should be remade. There is a certain elegance surrounding Audrey Hepburn that can not be captured by any of today's Hollywood starlets.

  The first time I watched Roman Holiday, the VCR had to rewind the tape on its own because I could not believe that it could have such a bittersweet ending. But I came to realize that the ending is what made it so wonderful. If it had the normal happy ending, Roman Holiday would probably have been dismissed long ago as a fairy tale.

  I think Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn and Eddie Albert are wonderful in this movie. Peck plays the perfect straight man for Albert and Hepburn. I absolutely love the scene when Peck sticks his hand in the mouth of truth. While I love Cary Grant, I think he would have been too refined to play the lead. Peck seems to be more of an "ordinary guy"
  
  

• A wonderful story, so where's it's DVD?

  
  By A3L46ZRKNFN0SG on 2001-10-24
  One night on a whim, I checked out 3 films: L.A. Confidential, Roman Holiday & Pulp fiction. The strangest surprise I got when I watched LA Confidential, was seeing a clip of Roman Holiday playing in a movie theater, and in awe by the coincidental checkout I had made. This film stands as a one of the better film romances I have seen in a long time. Much better than most films released today.

  At the onset of our story, we find Princess Ann(Audrey Hepburn) fed up with her non-stop tour of Europe, doing nothing more than meeting with other dignitaries, sticking to an all-work schedule, and almost no time to herself. One evening, fed up with her tiresome regiment, she escapes from her country's Roman Embassy, and sets out into the city. Soon after, she is discovered sleeping on a bench by Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), a member of the US News Service. Because she's too tired to tell him where she lives, Joe takes her home, and the next day realizes that she is Princess Ann. however, Ann is reluctant to reveal this, and Joe plays along with her game, hoping to get a story out of it. He is soon accompanied by his friend Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert), who is there to help bring photographs to the story (but without Ann knowing). Their escapades take them from the busy streets, to scenic Roman tourist sites, and onto a barge for a nightly dance. But as the day wears on, the Princess and Joe soon find that secretly they have been falling in love.

  This story's romance plotline works so well, because it's not something as predictable as say, "You've Got Mail." There are no real romantic longings between these characters, just several instances of a mutual friendship, which of course is the basis for romance in my book.

  The film was shot entirely on locations in Rome, with the exception of several indoor set pieces. What's amazing is the amount of time and patience it took to make this movie, but it's small pennies considering a project director William Wyler would tackle in later years: directing the epic Ben-Hur.

  As for casting, almost everyone has said it best: Audrey Hepburn was the best candidate for Princess Ann. Her portrayal of Ann as a young woman who is torn by her duties and yet yearns to do normal things (go to sidewalk cafes, wear pajamas, and so on), is so succinct that we believe her. Gregory Peck was not the first choice, but after watching him in this film, I can't picture anyone else doing a better Joe Bradley for the film. He has that seriousness yet sympathetic nature that reminds me in some ways of Harrison Ford. Eddie Albert as Irving the photographer has some of the most incredibly funny moments in the film. I won't give any away, because you have to see them for yourself.

  As a film student, there are several technical problems, such as sound fazing, quick cuts that seem to puzzle the eye and so forth, but the story makes up for this.

  This film was nominated for 10 Oscars in it's day, winning 3: Best Actress (Hepburn), Best Costume, and Best Motion Picture Story.

  The one thing I am most displeased with about this film, has to do with Paramount Pictures. Out of numerous films they've released featuring Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday has yet to see an imprint on a DVD disc. This seems hard to believe, considering this was Hepburn's major debut, her first Oscar win, and yete a romance story that should be seen and heard in this age we live in today. I can't stress this enough, but if you want to watch a relaxing film, Roman Holiday is just right.
  
  

• Simply wonderful
  By A10R81SKUK3TG6 on 2003-11-05
  What a wonderful movie! What a great romantic fantasy!
  It is one of my all-time favorites, one of the films I could watch several times, without getting bored.

  I don't think that the plot is important here, but the way the actors performed and the place where the story is set.
  In Rome, a European princess manages to escape the rigid and boring life and have and unforgettable experience, living for one day as a normal person. She does all the things that she was not allowed to do before, such as cutting her hair, eating ice-cream, strolling down the streets and why not, falling in love with an ordinary man.

  This is the role that brought Audrey Hepburn an Oscar and made her a well-known star.
  It is the natural and ingenuous performance that makes her such a charming and unforgettable character, a graceful presence on the screen.

  Her companion is Gregory Peck who has also a great performance and makes the film even more delightful. He plays the part of a young and charming journalist, looking for news that might increase sales of his newspaper and bring some money in his pocket.

  The DVD includes also a section with a kind of "making of": interviews of the people who participated at the shooting, memories, etc. This is even more interesting, as you will have the chance to listen to the people who were involved in this project, and the stories behind the scene. You will also see that time did not alter too many of Audrey Hepburn's features and even at an older age she still looks refined and elegant.

  I have one complain about this movie: 118 minutes seemed to be not enough for such a romantic story. I believe that everyone of us would like to dream about what is like to be lost in the "eternal city" for one day and enjoy the simple things of life.
  
  

• What a totally charming movie! I was enchanted!
  By A2X1ISY465EGS7 on 2001-02-12
  Roman Holiday brought a young, bright, immensely appealing Audrey Hepburn to the attention of the public, and we haven't been the same since. As Princess Anya, she combines grace, warmth, a sweet elegance, curiosity, a believable youthful impetuousness, with a regal bearing.

  Gregory Peck is amusing as a conman/ reporter who's too used to fast-talking his way out of any jam. Eddie Albert adds another jovial touch as his photographer buddy, who joins Peck and the Princess on a day-long excursion into the real Rome of the early 1950's. Forget that this movie is in black and white, it's got charm, romance, humor, and a bittersweet romantic ending that left me sighing. Peck's transition from smooth-talking reporter to a man falling in love with the Princess, and "doing right by her" in respecting her privacy and their time together, was credible. How I longed for them to STAY together, after they returned to his apartment, after their eventful night at the dance, near the Castel SantAngelo.

  And Audrey's transition from overprotected child Princess, to a woman of substance and depth, and true regal bearing, was breath-taking.

  Watch this movie once, then again and again. How perfect for Valentine's Day! How refreshing to watch a "clean" movie with intelligent dialogue, tongue-in-cheek humor, playfulness, and TRUE romance. It's a keeper!
  
  

• Both a Roman and romantic holiday for princess and viewer
  By A2P49WD75WHAG5 on 2004-04-06
  Roman holiday-a time of enjoyment derived from the suffering of others.

  Well, that's a dictionary's definition, but I guarantee that suffering is the diametric opposite for anyone watching Audrey Hepburn's starring debut. Ms. Hepburn stars as Princess Anne of some unnamed European kingdom. Fed up with her heavily scheduled public relations agenda in the Eternal City, Anne goes into hysterics and flees the palace, but not before the doctor injects her with a powerful sedative. She's rescued by Joe Bradley, a reporter with the American News Service, who takes her to his apartment and being a gentleman, does not take advantage of her in her drugged-out state.

  It isn't long before he finds out who she is and after tailing her, "bumps" into her on Rome's Spanish Steps, where she's had a new haircut and enjoying an ice cream. There was difficulty in shooting this scene due to the heckling of spectators.

  Bradley enlists the aid of Irving Radovic, a photographer, promising to cut him in on an exclusive story he wants to make on the princess. Some of the things he does to Irving to prevent their game from getting rumbled would only work in this kind of comedy. Together, the princess, ostensibly incognito to her charges, gets the free day she wants. Her half-lie that she's a schoolgirl playing hookey only makes her outing all the more fun.

  The title concept holds true as Anne goes walkabout while causing her chaperones much alarm, to the extent of sending men-in-black after her. Also, Anne's excursion takes place in the Eternal City after all. But it's also one for Bradley, whose boss wants him to get an exclusive on the princess, and Bradley's initial exploitative objective eventually turns into a holiday he wants Anne to have. Also, the phrase "Roman holiday" is derived from the gladiatorial contests the ancient Romans enjoyed, especially in the Colisseum, which ironically is where the half-insensate Anne mumbles as her place of residence to Bradley upon their first meeting.

  There are also a few bits of slapstick involved. One is the Mouth of Truth scene, the relic sculpted on the Colisseum, a face with eyes and mouth. Legend says that if a liar sticks his/her hand in there, it will be bitten off. Something silly does happen, which I will not reveal.

  This was nominated for ten Academy Awards (but not Best Actor!!!) Surely Gregory Peck's solid, dependable, and ultimately romantically touched performance deserved a nomination at least? Eddie Albert (Irving) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (and lost). It also lost Best Picture, but won for original screenplay and costume design. Hmm, I seem to have forgotten one, but which one? Hmm... All kidding aside, Audrey Hepburn won, beating out Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, and Leslie Caron for Best Actress.

  And it took five years for it to reach production. Writer John Dighton was actually blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. Co-writer Ian McClellan Hunter had to act as a front, taking credit for the Oscar-winning story for 40 years until a posthumous Oscar was given to Trumbo's widow.

  Shot totally in Rome, this unforgettable movie marked Audrey Hepburn's road to stardom. Her photogenic quality is well demonstrated with a fetching smile, that graceful figure, and of course a charming personality. Watching this movie is itself a Roman holiday.
  
  

• Unforgettable movie of a romance never to be
  By AJ8JJ6D5BSJKZ on 2002-08-18
  Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn)(by some accounts, based on Britain's Princess Margaret) is on a trade tour for her unnamed European nation. After a highly formal and boring ball (enlivened, in a hysterical scene by the Princess removing her uncomfortable shoe and then losing the shoe!) she rails against her regimented lifestyle and is given a sleeping pill. The half-drugged girl sneaks out of the Roman villa where she's staying, to be discovered by a reporter (Gregory Peck), who takes her home to recover. Peck soon realizes the girl's identity, gathers a photographer with a hidden camera, and takes her out for a day of "enjoying herself", perfect for an expose with lots of candid shots. But he soon finds himself falling for her . . .

  No doubt today the movie would end quite differently. But the classic, climactic scene, as they express their never-to-be love in coded words with dozens of others present, sets this movie apart, along with the acting of Peck and Hepburn (for which she won a deserved Oscar), and the many scenes of early-Fifties Rome (watch for the great, ad-libbed scene at the Mouth of Truth), make this movie one of the greatest ever.

  In this era of blatant acting, Peck and Hepburn, well-directed by William Wyler, show how much can be done, and better, with a mere facial expression.

  You'll love it.
  
  

• An enchanting fairy tale movie...
  By A2TV6SBCWT7P8S on 2002-07-21
  This movie is one of my all-time favorites, and always leaves me in a good mood. It features two wonderful classic actors, Gregory Peck (though Cary Grant would have been better in the role - he was offered it first but turned it down) and Audrey Hepburn (in her first starring role, which won her an Oscar). Additionally, it is a wonderfully romantic, sweet story, with a good script and many funny moments!

  Essentially, Roman Holiday is about a young Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) who gets tired of her sheltered life as a princess and decides to run away and explore the world for herself. She leaves the palace and stumbles along until falling asleep on a park bench in Rome, where she is found by a cynical newspaper reporter (Gregory Peck) who reluctantly takes her home. As soon as he realizes who she is, however, he decides to take her around Rome and use his experience with her to write a tell all article on the princess and her life. Accompanied by a hilarious photographer, they go on a tour of Rome - creating many hilarious and romantic scenes along the way!

  All in all, this movie is really wonderful, and is perfect for the whole family to watch. If you have not already seen this, what are you waiting for?
  
  

• CLASSIC 'COMFORT FOOD' CINEMA GETS 5-STAR DVD TREATMENT.
  By A2VXQL36IFQGKZ on 2003-05-07
  "Roman Holiday" hasn't remained an audience and critical favorite simply based on sentiment. It remains a delightful and romantic tale (undoubtedly rooted in fantasy) that can be viewed repeatedly without losing any charm. The usual synonym for Audrey Hepburn's performance (enchanting) is still true after 50 years. The DVD transfer is one of the best I've seen; if you suspend reality for a while you would swear it was the print of a brand-new film. The clarity and sound are excellent and the extras are a real treat for diehard fans of the movie.

  When my aunt finally relented and purchased a DVD player, this was the first movie I sent her to start her collection. What better compliment can there be for this ageless classic?
  
  

• Huge *Sigh* Factor!
  By A2FQPAN4M6VDUH on 2003-03-05
  I felt compelled to write a review of this film for several reason. First and foremost because this is one of my all-time favorite films. I never tire of watching this film over and over and sharing with others that have not yet had the pleasure of watching it. I also wanted to write this review because so many younger movie fans immediately dismiss older films and especially black and white films. And lastly, I wanted to put my two cents in after reading the "professional critic's" review... mis-cast??? HOW could there ever be a more perfectly, better cast film???

  Gregory Peck, who I had come to revere as Atticus Finch in "To Kill A Mockingbird" (he is the reason I wanted to become a lawyer when I was child), and Audrey Hepburn has the perfect mix of innocence and fearlessness for her role as the rebellious Princess. Even Eddie Albert as the comedic side-kick was ideal.

  This film follows a Princess who, at first glance, lives an enviable life of wealth and fame and glamour. I have always had a hard time finding any compassion for the complaints of similar people be it in real life or on film, but somehow Audrey Hepburn pulls it off and it is not difficult to cheer for her as she experiences such basic things as deciding how her hair should be cut and eating an ice cream. While Gregory Peck is undeniably smooth as the rogue American journalist, he also is able to pull off the needed sleaziness to make his role beleivable. You have to be able to understand his initial motivation does NOT come from a "good place", but merely out of greed and selfishness.... but then you have to also beleive his change of heart and its subtleness. And it works. He doesn't suddenly wake up and have a change of heart. You can see his transformation, or relevation as it may be, over the course of the film.

  As a closet romantic I have to say I always secretly hope there will be a better ending (and by "better" I do not mean in terms of movie quality. I mean in terms of a classic "happy ending"). The final scene is heart wrenching, yet the only plausible possible way it could end. I am always left wondering what the heck happened later, despite knowing full well the answer... and it isn't necessarily what we'd all like to imagine. But I respect the fact that the movie doesn't spell it out and doesn't wrap it all up in a lovely bow. Still a tear-jerker ending, but exactly as it should be.

  Please see this movie. You will want to own it afterwards I promise. And don't be fooled, it is not just some old, out-dated "chick flick." It's just good. Oh yeah, and that *sigh factor*... HUGE! Enjoy and share with younger audiences so this classic will never be lost to modern blockbusters.
  
  

• OSCAR WINNING HEPBURN IN A CHARMING ROMANCE!
  By A1M9DQDGE07Q0U on 2003-03-09
  Audrey Hepburn won her Best Actress Academy Award the first time out in director, William Wyler's "Roman Holiday". The plot concerns itself with a princess, tired of her royal duties, who decides to play hooky from the palace for one day and winds up falling for a handsome American newspaper journalist. Gregory Peck co-stars.
  Paramount Home Video has painstakingly restored "Roman Holiday" to its original luster. From the opening credits to the final, heart-breaking fade out, this is a magical DVD viewing experience. Contrast, gray scale, and clarity are superb. A few minor instances of pixelization (and I mean extremely minor) do not distract from this beautiful presentation. The soundtrack is mono but digitally remastered for a fresh, crisp sound and remarkably low background hiss. Extras include a a couple of documentaries, one on the film, another on resident fashion designer, Edith Head. Also trailers and a stills gallery. An "A-1" treatment for a first class fantasy that continues to charm us from beginning to end! GET IT TODAY!
  
  
• A ragged edge or two adds to the charm
  By on 2004-01-22
  No point in getting defensive about someone else's opinion, but Robert Horton (Amazon.com essential video) is considerably off the mark with his assessment of the casting of Gregory Peck. Gregory Peck's stiffness as an actor was always part of the package -- can't change it, or the whole persona falls apart. He's perfect as a foreign news bureau reporter, with a self-consciousness that fits the character to a "T". Mr. Horton suggests Cary Grant, who would have been 'way too slick and charming. As for William Wyler's direction, it's a perfect pairing with Peck's performance. Though Wyler was never afraid of a jump-cut, and the staging and continuity are a little ragged, we have to remember that this thing WAS filmed on location in post-war Italy, so it wouldn't have been the most trouble-free shoot. The actor who plays the hairdresser who snips the princess's hair early in the picture is a gem. As to Audrey Hepburn, this was the first time she rolled out that performance that she would essentially repeat again and again for the rest of her career. It was a limited bag of tricks, but each gesture, each look, each line delivered with that accent, was miraculous. Do I adore Audrey Hepburn? Yes I do.
  
  
• Classic Audrey Hepburn... with an Interesting "Backstory"
  By A322I5SYEYB06O on 2004-05-09
  This is by far one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies. In "Roman Holiday," Audrey plays a reluctant princess who escapes from her repressive royal life to have a one-day adventure in Rome... with Gregory Peck. This is a classic 1950s fairy tale romantic comedy.

  It's hard to believe that "Roman Holiday" was Audrey's first major film, because she's fabulous in it! She has a certain grace and charm that is unequaled. The Academy clearly agreed... Audrey won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Princess Ann.

  What most people don't know is that the script was an original creation by the famous screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo. Trumbo had already been blacklisted for refusing to answer HUAC's questions regarding his possible Communist affiliations. Trumbo was sentenced to a year in prison, and he spent his last few months of freedom working diligently on the "Roman Holiday" script. He was able to sell the script (for much lower than his usual price) by putting a friend's name on it. The money he earned from "Roman Holiday" took care of his family's needs while he was in jail.

  "Roman Holiday" is a fun, family-friendly romantic comedy. I highly recommend it!
  
  

• Needless to say: all time classic
  By A28TIQVT2HD7NF on 2004-05-14
  ~I think there is really no need to introduce or praise this movie. History will tell (has already told) that it is one of the classic in the movie industry that deserves to be collected and viewed again and again. Therefore a superb DVD transfer is on demand. This collector's edition did a great job on remastering the original film to DVD format - crystal clear picture with almost all scratches and noises removed. Play it in your DVD player, you won't believe that you are watching and hearing an~~ age old movie. Both picture and sound are superbly transfered plus all the extra features - this is the best money you can spend on a DVD with the contents for generations to enjoy.~
  
  
• Light, feel-good romance in Rome
  By A3N3B26OF3EC12 on 2004-06-01
  Since my family is going to Italy this summer, my father had us watch Roman holiday because of the setting and all of the landmarks shown in the movie. It was my first Audrey Hepburn film, and it definately will not be my last. In this ligh hearted tale, a princess of a European country becomes fed up with her duties and sneaks out to enjoy a day in Rome, where she soon meets, and falls in love with, an american reporter. This movie is incredibly charming and very romantic, with one of the saddest endings that doesn't seem all that sad. I would recommend it to everyone, regardless of age or movie preference.
  
  
• Roman Holiday: a sparkling gem
  By A1FUG2LZMOPTGB on 2004-08-01
  Despite being in black and white, Roman Holiday is anything but boring. It's the story of the Princess Anna of an unknown European country who goes on an exhausting European goodwill tour. Tired of royal life and being a royal pain (in other words a spoiled child), Anna (played by the sparkling actress, Audrey Hepburn) escapes into the city of Rome. There she meets Joe Bradley, a foreign news reporter from America, who mistakes her for being drunk and tries to take her back home. Unsuccessful, he, trying hard to be a gentleman, loans her his couch to sleep on for the night, not knowing she's a princess. Joe, (played to perfection by Gregory Peck)upon discovering she's a princess, sees a chance to make some money and boost his career. He takes her on the ultimate romantic tour of the Eternal City, never expecting to fall in love with the dainty, beautiful girl. The story is pretty predictable, but is one of the most romantic older screenplays I've ever seen. This is one of those really good movies that makes you want to cry at the end. You'll fall in love with Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and all the delightful characters of Roman Holiday, I guarantee.
  
  
• a perfect romantic comedy
  By A2P0NZ1415479R on 2002-01-10
  It took awhile, but I finally saw this film all the way through and, boy, am I glad I did. It's rare to find an onscreen couple with such great chemistry and magnistism. It's obvious in every moment of the film that Hepburn and Peck were having a marvelous time...or at least that's what they make you believe. This was Audrey's first major film role and it's not hard to see why she became an instant movie star. The camera just loves her and so will you. She plays Anya, a beleaguered European princess, who skips out on her duties just for one day and falls in love with an American reporter, played by the incredibly handsome Gregory Peck. This was the first film I've ever seen with a young Gregory and I have to say that I've really been missing something. I never released how handsome he was. They play off each other's strengths wonderfully, allowing you to really get under the skin of these two characters.

  You never find out what country Princess Anne is really from, but that doesn't really matter. She's her country's PR person and her presence is in constant demand at every state function under the sun while she's visiting Rome. The strain of having every minute of her time scheduled finally causes her to have a breakdown. Her secretary calls the doctor who gives her something to sleep. However, she escapes the castle before it takes effect and wanders into her own Roman adventure.

  She luckily finds herself in the very capable and honorable hands of Joe Bradley, a reporter exiled to Rome. He knows that one big story could pave his way back to the United States and once he discovers Anne's true identity he believes he's found his ticket home. What he doesn't anticipate is falling under her spell as she enjoys the only day of true freedom she has ever known. It's all about the money and fame at first, but in the end he just can't make himself blow the lid off her day of adventure. After all, she trusted him...and fell in love.

  Anne and Joe manage to do just about every fun thing there is to do in Rome in a day and it's fun to watch they're escapades. Though this is a romantic comedy, there are some poignant moments in the film, especially when the couple is forced to part. They never speak of her true identity, but both of them knows that what they're feeling can never exist outside this one stolen moment. It's a film that would never be made today because many people would consider the ending to be unhappy. I just consider it realistic. I have to admit I wanted it to be different, but that's life.

  It's a somewhat well-known fact that William Wyler wanted to direct this film in color, but I'm glad he didn't get his way. Black and white lends so much more style to movies. The way the light hits Audrey Hepburn's face is pure magic. It makes you concentrate more on the actors than the scenery. Wyler was considered one of the best woman's directors and this film is a pure example of why. This could have been just another hokey romantic comedy, but it's not. It stands the test of time because of the talent involved and the way the story is told. If you're looking for a realistic, fun romance ROMAN HOLIDAY is a must see. I can't wait to watch it again
  
  

• One of the screen's great romantic comedies
  By A16QODENBJVUI1 on 2003-05-23
  ROMAN HOLIDAY is without any question one of the greatest Romantic fantasies in the history of film. The story of a European princess who manages to escape her handlers and experience a single day living as a normal, everyday things-managing to fall in love with someone with whom her position forbade her to have a relationship with-could have been trite in the hands of less perfect performers. It is hard to imagine any actress who could have been more convincing as royalty, yet more adorable while living one day as a comparable nobody. When she leaves Gregory Peck near the end of the film to return to her royal duties, your heart breaks for her, and her resumption of her royal role feels as self-sacrificial and heroic as any act of bravery one can imagine.

  Audrey Hepburn single handedly makes this a great film, with some great assists. She is completely irresistible. A member of royalty sneaking away to enjoy a day with the common people is much harder to pull off than one might imagine, and it would have been quite simple to have made of this film something that was silly and unwatchable. But from the moment we first see Audrey Hepburn lose her shoe while surreptitiously attempting to scratch her ankle with her foot, our heart and our sympathy belongs to her. Just as Joe (Gregory Peck's character) does later, we want to protect her and comfort her, and allow her to enjoy the joys of life that her position in life has denied her. This was not her first film, but it was major role, and it has to count as one of the great major screen debuts in film history, rivaling that of James Dean in EAST OF EDEN.

  While absolutely no one can question the perfection of Audrey Hepburn starring in this film, I have always been surprised at the criticism of Gregory Peck in his role. While I will grant that Cary Grant might have been slightly better in the role (but, then, how many movies would that not have been true of?), I still find Peck's performance to be excellent. Moreover, without casting Gregory Peck, the film would have lost the most famous scene, where Peck pretends to lose his hand in the mouth of the carving in the wall. That was not in the script, and everyone agrees that he adlibbed it on the spot. Hepburn's startled reaction was more believable because she was genuinely shocked. There is a third star as well: the city of Rome. I know of no film in which Rome looks more enchanting and more magical. Many films portray Paris in alluring fashion, but this is the great film about Rome.

  The original story was by Dalton Trumbo, who was in 1953 on the Hollywood Blacklist for refusing to name names and for his leftist politics, so the story credit is given to Ian McLellan Hunter, who fronted for Trumbo. Hunter won the Oscar for Best Writing for a Motion Picture Story. Trumbo also won an Oscar for THE BRAVE ONE writing under the fake name Robert Rich.
  
  

• Simply charming
  By A2B8GXSCB1R05T on 2003-04-26
  There are few movies ever made that come even close to rivaling the sheer charm of "Roman Holiday." It is a rare example of a perfect film.

  Audrey Hepburn is so very beautiful that she could melt stone, which is exactly why Gregory Peck is perfect playing opposite her. He is the only leading man of his days that could possibly not fall in love with Princess Ann from the very first moment he meets her. The romance is helped along by the on-location shooting in Rome, with some very lovely locations. "Roman Holiday" has such a simple story, and such an uncomplicated feeling, that one is free to simply be in love with everything.

  The DVD is well worth owning, as the restored Black and White is by far the best print I have seen, including theatrical showings. Nice extra features including a few interesting documentaries.
  
  

• Totally Captivating Romance With A Magical Audrey Hepburn
  By A2TOU0N8XE68W4 on 2005-09-26
  "Roman Holiday", would have to be one of my all time favourite films even from when I was a child. It really is a charmed production from A to Z and is as fresh and charming today as it was over 50 years ago when it succeeded in capturing a young Audrey Hepburn in the sort of ideal role that became her trademark. Indeed perfection is about the only way to describe Audrey in this role of the young beautifully serene princess "on the lam", from her tiresome duties on a state visit to Rome who just wants to have some fun and see how the other half lives. Combining with a perfectly cast Gregory Peck the two work magic on screen in a funny, touching, and highly romantic romp that takes us through one carefree day in the beautiful Eternal City where we witness the two strangers slowly fall in love. Despite a few small earlier roles, Princess Ann in "Roman Holiday", was Audrey Hepburn's first lead role for which she most deservedly won the 1953 Academy Award as Best Actress. In roles originally intended for Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor, nowadays it is hard to imagine anyone else but Audrey Hepburn as the naive young Princess having her first experience of life in the "normal world", or Gregory Peck as the young reporter who might just have had the biggest scoop of his life fall right into his lap. Put this perfect combination together with a filmed on location effort in beautiful Rome and you could not possibly find I believe a better combination for a romantic movie such as this.
  
  The story opens with the much fanfare driven state visit of Princess Ann of an unidentified European country who is just beginning the Rome leg of her extensive goodwill visit. Overwhelmed with her hectic schedule where she finds herself not only meeting endless local dignitaries but visiting factories, schools and cultural centres the Princess quite rightly develops a case of hysterics at her regimented existence which she mimicks, as her assistant goes over the next days events with a "No thank you, Yes Thank you, Thank you very much" rehearsed reply. Hearing the local population of Rome enjoying the warm evening Princess Ann decides to sneak out of the embassy and see a bit of Rome for herself however she has been given an injection to calm her down and make her sleep and once she manages to escape she finds the shot doing its work and she finds herself collapsing on a bench in the Roman Forum. Just at that moment American reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) happens to come across her and after first trying to help out the girl who insists that her home is the Colosseum, finds that he has to reluctantly take her home to his tiny apartment to sleep off what he believes is a drinking spree. However Joe finds he has more than he bargained for as news spreads through Rome of the "strange sudden illness", of the visiting Princess Ann which has made the embassy cancel all the functions that she was due to attend. Glancing at a photo of the Princess in the papers Joe suddenly realises just who the mysterious girl fast asleep in his apartment actually is. Alerting photographer buddy Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert), about just who his visitor is and that they both can make a fortune on the scoop of having a Princess on the run Joe plays along with the charade of thinking she is a normal girl and offers to show "Anya Smith", as the Princess calls herself the sights of Rome. Over the course of the day they visit the sights of Rome all the while Irving is taking photos of the Princess which they both intend to sell to the newspapers. However the deception begins to turn sour as Joe finds himself falling in love with "Anya" and after an incident at a waterfront dance where a brawl breaks out and the Princess is photographed hitting a secret service officer on the head with a guitar, he decides to not print the story for Ann's sake. When Princess Ann finally says she must return home Joe agrees to drop her off a short distance from the embassy without revealing he knows her true identity. Ann has also fallen in love with the young American not knowing he is a reporter but now realises where her duty lies and they part. Bringing a new assertiveness to her job as Princess Ann agrees to meet with the press th enext day to explain her "illness", and her amazing recovery. She gets the shock of her life when out in the audience stands both Joe and Irving as part of the press corps. Breaking protocol Princess Ann comes down to meet the press individually and without letting on to the others she "meets" Joe Bradley "officially" as one of the press men covering her state visit to Rome. The two indivuals then part company forever as their lives and responsibilities take them off into their very different worlds
  
  As stated Audrey Hepburn could not have had a more charmed introduction to big screen audiences than she does here in "Roman Holiday". Despite all the talent involved in this Paramount production both in front and behind the camera Hepburn really is its body and soul and she more than meets the challenge with a performance of rare sensitivity, humour and total grace. She captures the naive and totally trusting Princess to perfection and it is a tribute to Audrey Hepburn's great skills as an actress even at this early stage of he rcareer that she manages to add so much dimension to her playing. This is best illustrated in the delightfully light touches that make Princess Ann such a real creature as seen in the scene when she looses her shoe while attending a state function to meet some important dignitaries and attempts to retrieve it without anyone noticing and when she wakes up in Gregory Peck's apartment and discovers that she is sleeping in his pyjamas and shoots her head under the blanket to see if she is wearing his pyjama trousers as well! Never once in her playing however does Audrey Hepburn allow us to forget she is a Princess and she is the epitome of elegance and serenity when dressed for her reception with the reporters. Her superb Oscar winning gowns by Givency in these scenes create the perfect image of a Princess while the Edith Head designed "day clothes", when she is out and about in Rome bring out perfectly the almost childlike charm of a young Princess enjoying life for the first time. Her scenes of liberation in Rome when she gets her hair cut short and attends the dance held down by the Tiber are also remarkable and she manages to keep totally in her established character even when she is smashing a guitar over a secret service man's head during the very funny brawl that breaks out! Obviously beside such a remarkable performance lead actor Gregory Peck had his work cut out for him in his only teaming with Hepburn. What could have been a largely colourless character beside Hepburn's Princess Ann is made by Peck's playing into a character we do care about, an inherently decent newspaper man who is tempted by the break the meeting with the Princess offers him but who instead grows to care and then fall in love with her. Peck's chemistry with Hepburn makes all of their scenes together a romantics delight such as their banter in Peck's apartment, the amusing motor scooter ride through Rome's crowded streets and the very famous scene at the "Mouth of Truth", where Peck actually adlibbed the scene of supposedly losing his hand to get the right startled reaction from Hepburn. Of course the city of Rome plays a huge role in this production and Paramount's decision to film in the eternal city was a stroke of genius that added so much to the look and feel of the film. Eddie Albert still best remembered for his work on the TV series "Green Acres", also scores well as Irving Radovich, Peck's photographer offsider in the deception and his many comical interludes add just the right light hearted touch to this romantic story. Director William Wyler a Hollywood veteran since the silent era who had directed such classics as "Dodsworth", "The Letter", "The Best Years of Our Lives",and "Ben Hur", really captures the true character of Rome here and makes the city a living part of the proceedings. Well known as a hard task master in his directing style the filming of "Roman Holiday", was not an easy task with the results often being achieved under very trying circumstances as the movie was filmed during the height of the Roman summer and often in front of huge crowds of curious onlookers where everyones energy and patience was pushed to the limit.
  
  For anyone who loves romantic movies set in exotic places "Roman Holiday", makes unsurpassed entertainment of the first order. The sheer star power of Audrey Hepburn so ideally cast here will always earn this film immortality in Hollywood's hall of fame and it was this film that was responsible for starting the great love affair that movie goers (this movie lover included especially!), have had ever since with Audrey Hepburn. The perfect marriage of actors, characters, dialogue, and location rarely come together as well as they do in "Roman Holiday", and this fact is responsible for this film being loved by successive generations of movie goers. As an introduction to the legend that is Audrey Hepburn dont miss "Roman Holiday", it is a viewing experience I always cherish as I know you will too.
  
  
  
  
• Will make you fall in love with Audrey Hepburn!
  By on 2000-01-27
  Before I saw this film, my opinion of Audrey Hepburn was that she was just "the other Hepburn." That opinion changed when I saw Audrey's face when she wakes up in Gregory Peck's bed. Kate who? "Roman Holiday" made me a huge Audrey Hepburn fan and I have since watched virtually every one of her movies. "Roman Holiday," though, still remains my favorite.

  On a side note, I recently watched a film from 1943 called "Princess O'Rourke" and its similarity to "Roman Holiday" is eerie. That film stars Olivia de Haviland as a princess who escapes from her confined life and falls in love with a common American. Unlike "Roman Holiday", that film cops out in the end with the customary, but rather unbelievable, happy ending and I think that is why that film has been relativily forgotten. It was the combination of Audrey Hepburn's and Gregory Peck's (miscast my foot!) performances and the poignant, bittersweet ending that made "Roman Holiday" an unforgetable classic.
  
  

• If only...
  By ACZ57H6BGX6D9 on 2000-03-16
  As a long-time Gregory Peck/Audrey Hepburn fan, I watch Roman Holiday every now and then. The measure of its hold on this viewer is the fact that no matter how many times I watch this, when the bittersweet, but logical, ending comes, I always hope that maybe this time, just this once, the princess will come back into the hall and stop Joe as he's on his way out the door. Now that's movie-making, to make me hope for that which will not happen. As a writer, I did figure out a logical sequel for those of us who want the happy ending. How about this? Princess Ann is from one of those little bitty Eastern European countries overrun by the Communists around the time this story takes place. Why not have Joe meet up with her again when he's in the war-torn country doing a story? She's on the run and out of the princess line now, and there he is. Works for me, except that only Peck and Hepburn could have played the roles. Ah, well.
  
  
• An Essential Film for Anybody and Everybody
  By A3R0RPTK2Q09DE on 2000-05-26
  You simply cannot go through life without rewarding yourself by viewing Audrey Hepburn's amazing film, Roman Holiday. Both a Classic and Contemporary love story, it will draw you in alongside Hepburn and Peck; celebrating with them one glorious, free-spirited day inside the magnificence of a life without bounds. You'll find yourself wishing them long lives of happiness and love, before you ever admit to yourself that it's only a brilliant film. The ending will leave you with joy, longing, and tears, but you'll not only know it has to be that way, you'll want it that way. Indeed, the ending encases all of the magic of the film, and will leave you with the same strong impression that it has given to millions.
  
  
• The Perfect Film
  By A2QLLWP7IUIEP4 on 2002-07-17
  Roman Holiday is the most perfect film ever produced. Humor, romance, slapstick, dialogue, and most of all, poignancy. I had never seen an Audrey Hepburn film until a few years ago when my girlfriend (now wife) picked it up on video and said I would like it. I'm a big Gregory Peck fan, so I was like sure, I'll watch it. From the moment Audrey first appeared as the delightfully charming Princess Ann, I fell in love with her. I know that's a commonly used phrase when describing Audrey's performance in this film, but I don't know how else to describe it. I literally fell in love. I'm not a big fan of romantic comedies, and I think most movies are worthless [stuff] that have done more to destroy our culture than advance it. But my god this is the best film I've ever seen! I've probably seen it 10 times now, and every [single] time I see it I fall in love all over again and in the end my heart is left broken. Audrey and Peck's chemistry is magical. The scenery is beautiful, even in black and white. [Why], even Eddie Albert is wonderful! Every time I watch this movie I want to hold Audrey in my arms and kiss her and never let her go. I never felt this way about a stupid movie. But I can't help it. I refuse to own it. Why? Because I would spend all my free time watching it, to see if maybe, just maybe, this time they'll end up together. I end up catching it every few months on AMC, after which I'm in a funk for a few days. I know this sounds ridiculous, but this is the only movie that hits me so deeply, so passionately. I'm almost angry that it does so, but what can I do? "Well, life isn't always what one likes, is it?"

  What also bothers me is why these two never worked together again? Does anyone know? Please tell me. After Roman Holiday, I've found every other Audrey film to pale in comparison. The major fault of all of them is the lack of chemistry she shares with her costars (grouchy Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina; the laughable Gary Cooper in Love in the Afternoon; a decent effort by George Pappard in Tiffany's; the "I-bet-I-can-be-more-suave-than-you" performance of Cary Grant in Charade; I could go on forever). Audrey is wonderful and beautiful as usual, but the films are generally poor. Peck went back to the gritty hero roles (and was perfect in all of them), while Audrey was pawned off to every Hollywood romantic lead. I just don't get it. But then again, I don't think I'll ever get Hollywood.
  
  

• PECK AND HEPBURN SHINE
  By A3H9JSM1SUTE4O on 2003-01-22
  It is believed that black-listed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo wrote ROMAN HOLIDAY in 18 days and got $50,000 through a "front" to pay for his living expenses and legal fees while he spent a year in jail for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. If that's really the case, it's hard to find any hidden agenda or subliminal political message in this timeless romance.

  Gregory Peck is an American journalist who, seeking an exclusive interview with Audrey Hepburn, a rebelling princess on the lam, pretends ignorance of her true identity when fate brings them together. But Peck's plan falters as the two fall in love.

  The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and Audrey Hepburn won an Oscar© in this her first major role. The late William Wyler was a masterful director who was comfortable with a wide variety of stories and genres (The Best Years of our Lives, Ben Hur, The Collector). His signature was letting the story be the star.

  This fully restored print is breathtaking. Extras include a "Remembering Roman Holiday" documentary, a featurette on the restoring process and a look at costumer Edith head's Paramount years. Recommended.
  
  

• Roman Classic
  By AZ7WBBWU2H7YT on 2000-01-09
  How should I say this, the movie, by itself, is fantastic. The story line has a touch of Cinderella, the fanciful story of the Princess and the common man. But UNLIKE the classical love story, the two souls... well, when you buy it you'll know. The charming plot takes the audience to Rome, (and by the way, its very effective that the movie was set IN Rome, not some Hollywood studio.) the eternal city, which brought out the classic charm of Audrey Hepburn, our Princess. After viewing the movie, the most delightful feeling will overcome you. You'll find yourself unconsciously rewinding that tape. At the beginning, I say the movie by itself is fantastic. But the movie is not the only fantastic part. One who has seen the movie can't ignore the beauty of Audrey Hepburn. It's a treat by itself to see such an elegant woman. All and all, buy the movie and ENJOY IT!
  
  
• Gregory Peck Miscast? NOT EVEN!
  By A2S9PZCNEJEF3Y on 2002-08-09
  I cannot believe those who think GREGORY PECK was miscast in this movie as leading man! This is a great movie and how couold anyone else even fill GREGORY PECK's shoes in this great film? NOT EVEN Cary Grant! GREGORY PECK did a fabulous job here and one of his more memorable classic roles in a very long running career.
  
  
• The film that introduced the world to Audrey Hepburn
  By A2ODBHT4URXVXQ on 2004-01-05
  Yeah, she'd been around for a little while before this, but her part in Roman Holiday was the film that really introduced her to the world. My 32yo didn't really have any sense of who she was; to him, she was just a familiar name and face. We watched Roman Holiday together, followed by Breakfast at Tiffany's - and he looked at me as the credits rolled at the end and said, "Wow. Okay. I get it."
  In Roman Holiday, Hepburn plays a European princess frustrated with her narrow world. She slips away from her handlers to have herself a little incognito fling in Rome - but she's recognized by a reporter, Gregory Peck. He woos her, snaps photos, and intends to publish and get famous, because of course she doesn't know who he is and acts completely natural - not regally royal. But then, well, he really falls for her. And finally, of course, she has to go back to the palace, where she holds an audience for the press - and there he is, her partner in crime who holds the power to ruin her.
  It's terrific. She deservedly won an Oscar for the role.
  
  

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