Roman Holiday

After appearing in several small roles in movies that are largely obscure today, Audrey Hepburn received the role that effectively makes one a star over night. And thanks to her command performance, Hepburn became just that. At the age of 24, in her first starring role, Audrey Hepburn toplined William Wyler's romantic comedy "Roman Holiday", and went on to win Best Actress. Hepburn would later become known for her gamine features and innocent, winsome nature on screen, but it was here that audiences first fell in love with her, playing royalty on the run: Princess Anne. In Rome for a diplomatic meeting, Anne tires of the pre-arranged ceremonies, appearances and other stuffy functions she is to attend, and sneaks out into the gorgeous city of Rome for a 24 hour crash course in normal living. What she does not anticipate is falling in love, which happens as a result of bumping into Gregory Peck's international news reporter, Joe. In a time when studios saved money by recreating exotic locales on sound stages in Hollywood, Paramount is to be commended for sending cast and crew to Rome, which give the movie a stunning, authentic look even the best production designer could not replicate. Regarded as a classic today, I have to wonder what audiences at the time thought about this film; William Wyler's track record at the time was already extremely impressive, but Audrey Hepburn was essentially an unknown and Gregory Peck, while an established actor and Best Actor recipient, was venturing into his first comedy, kind of a reverse Tom Hanks career choice. While Peck is satisfactory (drama really was his strong suit, his stern look and imposing voice do not really translate into soft comedy), Hepburn immediately cast her spell over audiences, and would remain a mega star for the next 25 years, until she withdrew from movies to lend her celebrity to UNICEF. But before all that, this was the film which propelled her into the stratosphere.

When Joe Bradley's editor starts giving him a hard time about a fresh story at the beginning of the film, Joe has no idea that the story of his life will soon be falling into his lap. After a chance encounter brings him upon Anne, who believes cutting her hair is enough of a disguise, Joe plays along, intending on using his time with the princess as his next story. Of course what he does not count on is the beautiful and beguiling Anne to fall in love with him, and for he to feel the same affection. The two share a beautiful day throughout the city of Rome, and Wyler makes the most of his location, capturing his stars in front of every Roman tourist attraction. There are several charming vignettes, such as the classic Vespa riding lesson Joe gives Anne through the crowded streets, and their encounter with the stone monster that legend says will bite off your hand. Despite their growing attraction towards each other, Joe and Anne are each harboring their own secret, and the inevitable romantic comedy confrontation is always on the horizon. A running subplot throughout the film begins early on when Joe enlists the aid of a photographer friend of his, Irving, to take discreet pictures of the two throughout the day. While dancing aboard a ship later on that evening, Joe and Irving have to save Anne when some over zealous Italian young men each wish a dance with the charming Anne, prompting an elaborate fight scene, which results in Irving's camera being smashed. He warns Joe of falling in love with his story, and Joe assures him he will end their affair soon. Anne too begins to feel the demands of her title pulling her back, and their romantic evening in Rome takes on a bittersweet pall.

The next day, with Anne's royal entourage due to move on from Rome, Anne admits to Joe who she is. Joe as well admits his original intentions, prompting Anne to return to the palace, ashamed of herself for falling in love with a newspaper man only out for a story. Upon returning however, she knows she really does love Joe, and realizes Joe really does love her. At her farewell press conference, Anne is shocked to find Joe in attendance, and when asked which city on her royal tour she enjoyed visiting the most, one member of her party goes into a canned response of each city being equally enjoyable, before Anne blurts out "Rome! I will cherish my visit here in my memory as long as I live!". The crowd is somewhat taken aback by Anne's impulsive honesty, but the look she and Joe exchange is enough to convince him she is telling the truth. Where most films of this nature would take the implausible way out (see "Notting Hill" for a perfect example), "Roman Holiday" stays true to its title; Anne is on holiday, and all good things end badly, otherwise they would not end. She cannot just run off and be with Joe, even though it is what they both want. Conveying with her eyes what few actresses could with a perfectly written monologue, Audrey Hepburn sealed her Oscar win with Anne's dramatic exit at the film's end. Joe takes a moment to reflect on what he just went through and kind of laughs to himself, then simply walks off, his life to continue, knowing full well it will without her. While the romantic comedy's biggest crutch is the happy ending, "Roman Holiday" acheives that rare thing: classic status while bucking convention. Anne and Joe should be together, but they cannot, and it is a credit to Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck and William Wyler that we feel so strongly at this point, but also that we accept the natural ending of things. A sad side note to this otherwise heart warming film is the story of its writer, Dalton Trumbo. One of Hollywood's blacklisted writers, Trumbo had to watch his name be stricken from the final cut of the film and consented to his friend accepting his Best Original Screenplay Oscar the following year. His widow was awarded a posthumous award for him in 1993, but having died in 1976, this did little for the man himself. This unforutnate history aside, Trumbo's writing, Wyler's direction and the two stars great performances are all the reasons one would need to seek out "Roman Holiday".