Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance; the screenplay and costume design also won.

Roman Holiday

The script was written by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, though with Trumbo on the Hollywood blacklist, he did not receive a credit; instead, Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for him. Trumbo's credit was reinstated when the film was released on DVD in 2003. On December 19, 2011, full credit for Trumbo's work was restored. Blacklisted director Bernard Vorhaus worked on the film as an assistant director under a pseudonym.

The film was shot at the Cinecittà studios and on location around Rome during the "Hollywood on the Tiber" era. The film was screened in the 14th Venice Film Festival within the official program.

In 1999, Roman Holiday was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Plot

Ann, a crown princess from an unnamed European nation on a state visit to Rome, becomes frustrated with her tightly scheduled life and secretly leaves her country's embassy. The delayed effect of a sedative makes her fall asleep on a bench, where Joe Bradley, an expatriate reporter for the "American News Service", finds her, without recognizing who she is. Thinking that she is intoxicated, Joe lets her spend the night in his apartment.

Roman Holiday

The next morning, Joe hurries off late to work and gives his editor, Mr. Hennessy, false details of his attendance at the princess's press conference. When Hennessy informs him that the event had been cancelled and shows him a news item about the princess's "sudden illness" with a picture of her in it, he realizes who is asleep in his apartment. Seeing an opportunity, Joe privately calls his photographer friend, Irving Radovich, to get him to secretly take pictures. Joe then tells Hennessy that he will get an exclusive wide-ranging interview with the princess and asks how much that would be worth. Hennessy offers to pay $5000, but bets Joe $500 that he will not be able to get it.

Joe hurries home and, hiding the fact that he is a reporter, offers to show "Anya" around Rome. However, Ann declines Joe's offer and leaves. Enjoying her freedom, she explores an outdoor market, buys a pair of shoes, observes the people and daily life of Rome, and gets her long hair cut short. Joe follows and "accidentally" meets Ann on the Spanish Steps. This time, he convinces her to spend the day with him, taking her to a street café where he meets up with Irving. When Anya tries to drive Joe on a Vespa through heavy Roman traffic they are all arrested, but Joe and Irving show their "fake" press passes and the group is set free. They visit the Mouth of Truth, where Joe tricks Ann into thinking that his hand has been bitten off, and later tour the Colosseum.

That night, at a dance on a boat that her barber had invited her to, government agents called in by the embassy spot Ann and try to forcibly take her away. Joe, Irving, and the barber rush in to save her from the abductors. Ann joins in the fight that breaks out. As police arrive and subdue the agents, Joe and Ann run away, but after Joe is ambushed and falls into the river, Ann jumps in to save him. They swim away from the dance and kiss as they sit shivering on the riverbank. Later at Joe's apartment, while drying their wet clothes, they share tender bittersweet moments. Regretfully bowing to her royal responsibilities, Ann asks Joe to drive her to a corner near the embassy, where they kiss again. She bids a tearful farewell and resumes her duties as a princess.

Joe decides not to write the story, although he tells Irving he is free to sell his photographs. Joe and Irving then leave to attend the postponed press conference at the embassy, much to Princess Ann's surprise. Joe assures Ann (in words she, but not the other reporters, will understand) that he will print nothing about their day together. At the end of the interview, the princess unexpectedly asks to meet the journalists, speaking briefly with each. As she reaches Joe and Irving, Irving presents her with his photographs as a memento of Rome. She and Joe share a few innocuous words together, before she reluctantly departs. After the rest of the press leave, Joe stays for awhile, then walks away alone.

Awards and nominations

Oscars

Best Motion Picture - William Wyler - Nominated

Best Director - William Wyler - Nominated

Best Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won

Best Supporting Actor - Eddie Albert - Nominated

Best Screenplay - Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton - Nominated

Best Story - Dalton Trumbo - Won

Best Art Direction – Black-and-White - Hal Pereira and Walter H. Tyler - Nominated

Best Cinematography – Black-and-White - Franz Planer and Henri Alekan - Nominated

Best Costume Design – Black-and-White - Edith Head - Won

Best Film Editing - Robert Swink - Nominated

Bambi Awards

Best Actor – International - Gregory Peck - Nominated

Best Actress – International - Audrey Hepburn - Nominated

British Academy Film Awards

Best Film - Nominated

Best Foreign Actor - Eddie Albert - Nominated

Best Foreign Actor - Gregory Peck - Nominated

Best British Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won

Directors Guild of America Awards

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures - William Wyler - Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama - Audrey Hepburn - Won

Huabiao Film Awards

Outstanding Translated Foreign Film - Won

National Board of Review Awards

Top Ten Films - 6th Place

National Film Preservation Board

National Film Registry - Inducted

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

Best Film - Nominated

Best Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won

Online Film & Television Association Awards

Hall of Fame – Motion Picture - Won

Venice International Film Festival

Golden Lion - William Wyler - Nominated

Writers Guild of America Awards

Best Written American Comedy - Ian McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo and John Dighton - Won