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Actors: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Roman Holiday |
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Roman Holiday
Directed by William Wyler, 1953
Staring Gregory Peck (as Joe Bradley), Audrey Hepburn (as Princess Ann) and Eddie Albert (as Irving Radovich)
This is a romantic comedy set in Rome in the early 1950s. This was Audrey Hepburn's first American movie. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won three, including a Best Actress for Audrey Hepburn.
The story is about a young princess (Hepburn) named Ann, making a goodwill tour of Europe's capitals. She is tired of the responsibility and demands of the role she has been born in to and longs to experience the every day pleasures of an ordinary person. In Rome she finally rebels. Waiting until after everyone in the embassy where her party is staying has gone to sleep, she slips out a window and finds herself alone on the streets of Rome. She is found by Joe Bradley (Peck), a hardened and somewhat cynical reporter, on his way home from a late night card game. Not knowing who she is but seeing that she has no place to stay he takes pity on her and invites her to his apartment for the night. In a comical scene, he offers her a pair of his pajamas and points to the couch where she can sleep. Innocent aristocrat that she is, she asks for a nightgown and help undressing. Bradley helps her take off her tie and then leaves the room. When he returns a few minutes later he discovers her sound asleep on the bed, leaving him the couch.
Leaving her sleeping the next morning, Bradley shows up late for work and tries to cover himself by saying that he had an interview with the princess. But his editor shows him a newspaper with her picture and headline stating that she was taken ill the night before and canceled all appointments for the day. Bradley immediately realizes who he has in his apartment and gets the editor to agree to pay $5,000 if he can get a real interview with the princess. On the way out Bradley contacts a photographer friend, Irving Radovich (Albert) and arranges for him to met him later with his camera for a big scoop.
Returning to his apartment, Bradley picks up the princess for their planned tour of the city. Bradley's real aim is to get the pictures and story he promised his editor. But the innocent charm of the princess softens him and the two start to fall in love. They end up having a good time and some comical adventures. Bradley conceals the fact that he is a reporter who knows who she really is and she doesn't tell him that that she is a royal princess. But in the end the truth comes out and the princess realizes that her duty to her country and family come first and she reluctantly returns to her official role.
The two meet briefly at the end during her press conference with other reporters. She addresses Bradley as Mr. Bradley just like the others. As he is leaving, Bradley, quietly slips her the photos that his friend Irving had taken and lets her know that his story and pictures of their time together will never be published.
--Chuck Nugent, Resident Scholar
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The charming Audrey Hepburn plays a modern princess who takes a day on Rome. She meets up with reporter Peck and wise-cracking photographer Albert. Peck and Hepburn fall in love, though Peck plans to sell an "exclusive story with the princess." Roman Holiday is a fun romantic comedy, but stays realistic with its commentary on society and royalty.
--Angela Allan, Resident Scholar
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A disillusioned Princess escapes the drudgery of her uneventful duties leaving the life she has known for the unknown. She escapes her duties and meets up with a secretive newspaper journalist on the hunt for the story of his life after discovering her true identity. After spending time together in fun and escape, the reality of their love strongly shows, but she is reminded of her duties and leaves his embrace to return to her previous life in the palace. She later discovers his identity and loves her lover more for his not disclosing her identity to the world and furthering her shame. It left me thoughtful and wishing that a marriage might take place after all!
--Beth Schnell, Resident Scholar
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An enchanting and Oscar-winning performance by the graceful Audrey Hepburn as Princess Anne.She 'escape' from her duties while in Rome and had an adventure holiday after ran into an American reporter(G.Peck). Truly timeless classic.
--Jenny, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Roman Holiday |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- romance (general)
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Culture clash?
- visiting a different culture
Culture of surrounding area:
- General European
Lover is...
- of a different social class
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- (woman) skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- happy
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
- Eastern Europe
City?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Chuck Nugent
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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