258. Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday
1953
Directed by William Wyler

I am not a huge Audrey Hepburn fan.  I don't hate her.  She is just so cute and fragile that she sometimes gets on my nerves.  That being said, my best friend growing up and my sister were huge Hepburn fans so I have seen a large portion of her films.  I don't even know how it happened sometimes but I have seen Breakfast at Tiffany's at least six times and Wait Until Dark at least four times.  And I don't even like those films!

Anyway, all that being said, Roman Holiday is probably my favorite Hepburn movie.  It has been parodied to death but it is still always going to be a fun storyline.  Audrey Hepburn is a princess who is tired of her duties and goes out for a day under the guise of a normal girl.  She comes across Gregory Peck, who is a journalist that attempts to use her for a story.  That is until they….FALL IN LOVE????

I am pleased, once more, that I chose to do this blog in chronological order.  It is easy to forget what a different type of heroine Audrey Hepburn is in this movie.  If you put it in cinematic context, though, she is a revolutionary.  She is not sexy, fast talking, or mysterious but rather adorable and, for lack of a better word, normal.

Audrey and Gregory have fantastic chemistry, which is always essential for a good romcom.  A fun film with an ending that makes you think.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Ranked #4 in AFI's top 10 romantic comedies.

Audrey Hepburn had trouble crying when she said goodbye to Joe. William Wyler yelled at her for it she promptly burst into tears, which were used for the take.

The role was originally offered to Cary Grant but he considered himself too old for Audrey.