Roman Holiday (1953)

Director:

William Wyler

Writers (WGA):

Dalton Trumbo (story) (front Ian McLellan Hunter)
Ian McLellan Hunter (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 September 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Audrey Hepburn at her Oscar-winning best in an immortal comedy-romance!

Plot:

A bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome.

Plot Keywords:

Princess | American | Press Conference | Sedative | Editor

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Joe Bradley
Audrey Hepburn	...	Princess Ann
Eddie Albert	...	Irving Radovich
Hartley Power	...	Mr. Hennessy
Harcourt Williams	...	Ambassador
Margaret Rawlings	...	Countess Vereberg
Tullio Carminati	...	Gen. Provno
Paolo Carlini	...	Mario Delani
Claudio Ermelli	...	Giovanni
Paola Borboni	...	Charwoman
Alfredo Rizzo	...	Cab Driver
Laura Solari	...	Secretary
Gorella Gori	...	Shoe Seller
Heinz Hindrich	...	Dr. Bonnachoven
John Horne	...	Master of Ceremonies

Also Known As:

Vacances romaines (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Ein Herz und eine Krone (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
La princesa que quería vivir (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
A Princesa e o Plebeu (Brazil) [pt]
Diakopes sti Romi (Greece) [el]
Férias em Roma (Portugal) (original subtitled version) [pt]
Loma Roomassa (Finland) [fi]
Prinsessa på vift (Sweden) [sv]
Prinsessen holder fridag (Denmark) [da]
Római vakáció (Hungary) [hu]
Roma tatili (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Rzymskie wakacje (Poland) [pl]
Vacaciones en Roma (Spain) [es]
Vacances a Roma (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Vacanta la Roma (Romania) [ro]
Vacantie te Rome (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Vacanze romane (Italy) [it]
Xufsha B'Roma (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]

Runtime:

118 min | Portugal:117 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) (original rating) | West Germany:6 (f) (re-rated) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16114) | UK:U | USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Bocca della Verita "Mouth of Truth", Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Piazza Bocca della Verita, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The Embassy Ball sequence featured real Italian nobility, who all donated their salaries to charity. The reporters at the end of the film were real too.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Anne climbs into the back of the truck to escape the palace, there is no canopy. When she later climbs out when the truck is stopped in traffic, it has a canopy.

Quotes:

Joe Bradley: How much would a real interview with this dame be worth?
Mr. Hennessey: Are you referring to Her Highness?
Joe Bradley: I'm not referring to Annie Oakley, Dorothy Lamour, or Madame... How much?
Mr. Hennessey: What do you care? You've got about as much chance...
Joe Bradley: I know, but if I did? How much would it be worth?
Mr. Hennessey: Oh, just a plain talk on world issues, it would probably be worth two hundred and fifty. Her views on clothes, of course, would be worth a lot more, maybe a thousand... dollars.
Joe Bradley: I'm talking about her views on everything!... The private and secret longings of a Princess. Her innermost thoughts as revealed to your own correspondent in a private, personal, exclusive interview.
[His boss' mouth drops, awe-struck by the thought]
Joe Bradley: Can't use it, huh? I didn't think you'd like it.
Mr. Hennessey: Come here! Love angle too, I suppose.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Paprika (2006)

Viva Audrey!

I recently caught this little gem of a film on a retro program and it was a trip well worth it. William Wyler was a genius directing throughout his film career. Here he's in top form.

The only way this film could have been conceived was with the charming presence of Audrey Hepburn in her first appearance on a Hollywood film. She is without a doubt, an angel who was sent to this earth to delight the movie audiences in whatever movie she happened to dignify with her appearance in.

Some people have compared Audrey Tatou with the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. Seeing Ms Hepburn in Roman Holiday will certainly change the minds of those comparing fans. Audrey Hepburn was a star's star! She exudes charm, intelligence, elegance, and beauty. Just one look from her could disarm Gregory Peck forever.

The only wrong note of this production was the way the writer, Dalton Trumbo, was treated since he had been blacklisted by the anti-communist faction lead by Sen. McCarthy and company. In the end, Mr. Trumbo was vindicated in having his name recognized as the writer of Roman Holiday.

This film is a feast to the eyes in that glorious cinematography and Rome as a background. This was Hollywood at its best. Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn will be forever young any time we take a look at this classic that I'm sure will live and charm its viewers whenever they take a chance to see it for the first time, or like some of us, for another loving look.