William Wyler’s brilliant Roman Holiday is one of the most charming romantic comedies of all time. The 1953 film introduced audiences to Audrey Hepburn, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her glowing performance as Princess Ann. Hepburn was cast after a screen test and, after she had performed a stately scene from the movie, won the part after candid footage of her talking things through with the director was discovered after cameras kept rolling after the official test. Some of the footage was featured in the original theatrical trailer and Hepburn’s natural chemistry won audiences over.
Wyler, one of Hollywood’s most distinguished and talented directors, shot the film on location in Rome in a move that was hard on the budget. As a result of the budgetary issues of shooting in Rome and in Cinecittà (a large Italian film studio founded by Mussolini in 1937), the movie had to be shot in black and white. One wonders about how the pageantry of Rome would have come across on screen with a little more vibrancy, but Wyler’s expert direction captures the magic of Rome in spades and one hardly can tell the difference between traditional B&W and glorious “Technicolor.”
Roman Holiday was written by John Dighton and author Dalton Trumbo. Trumbo was a member of the Hollywood Ten, a group of film professional who testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 as the committee investigated Communist influences in the motion picture industry. Trumbo aligned himself with the American Communist Party in the 1940s and refused to give information before the committee. As a result, he was blacklisted and, in 1950, spent 11 months in prison. Trumbo was not credited for writing Roman Holiday and, instead, Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for him. When the screenplay won an Academy Award, Hunter claimed it. In 1993, Trumbo was finally awarded the Oscar posthumously.
Wyler’s film was nominated for a whopping ten Academy Awards, which was quite a feat for a comedy. Hepburn took home the gold for her wondrous performance, as mentioned, and the movie also picked up the Oscar for costume design. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Eddie Albert), Best Director, Best B&W Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Film Editing. Hepburn also picked up a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, and the New York Film Critics Circle award for her performance.
Hepburn stars as Princess Ann, a bored and precocious young princess who is on a widely publicized tour of European countries. On a stop in Rome, she rebels against the demands of her duties and escapes the embassy to take a tour of the city on her own. Unfortunately, she is injected with a sedative by her doctor before she leaves and finds herself stumbling around the streets like a drunk. Princess Ann runs into Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), who happens to be an expat American reporter. He soon discovers that she is the famed princess and decides to get the scoop of the century, never counting on his personal feelings to get in the way of a good story.
Hepburn, 23 at the time of shooting, is simply a marvel here. Her energy is contagious and her comic timing and ability to charm is plainly awe-inspiring. As Princess Ann, she is every bit the royal she must be and yet every bit the precocious human being she needs to be. The chemistry she establishes between Peck and herself is excellent, too, and one really feels the energy coming from the screen. Hepburn looks stunning, too, and is absolutely adorable in so many of the film’s magical scenes. When she’s under the effects of the injection from her doctor, her routine is one of the funniest comedic and farcical performances I’ve witnessed in a long time. “So happy.”
Peck is good too, as he straightens up to help Hepburn fly right. He has good chemistry with all of the supporting characters, too, and really comes across as a legit love interest for Princess Ann. The final shot of Gregory Peck walking through the beautiful hall after the interview is one of the most stunning pieces of filmmaking I’ve seen recently, as his thoughtful and purposeful gait mesh wonderfully with Wyler’s understated directing. With command of each scene he’s in, Peck does a wonderful job of grounding things in this fairy tale and giving the story a slice of realism and believability.
Roman Holiday functions beautifully as a sort of Cinderella story in reverse, dutifully proving to be both a gentle comedy and a tender romance. It’s wonderful viewing for the whole family and never pushes things where they need not go. With Wyler’s capable hands and Hepburn’s natural charm, Roman Holiday is one of the best romantic comedies ever made.
10/10
Trailer:
