100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 161: Roman Holiday

Director: William Wyler

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 1953

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert

Description: A bored and sheltered princess (Audrey Hepburn) escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman (Gregory Peck) in Rome.

Review: Director William Wyler does something simple here, which works perfectly: he uses the charm and personality of the two lead actors and they shine from beginning ‘till end.

The initial plan was to shoot in Hollywood and use décor instead of shooting at location. Wyler didn’t want that and he had to cut budget. They had to get an unknown actress to play Princess Ann. Audrey Hepburn got her first big movie role in “Roman Holiday”. She plays a realistic princess, who is sick of her life. Her love interest is played by Gregory Peck, who also does a very good job. Together they work as a movie couple.

“Roman Holiday” is filled with many beautiful moments and it all looks even better because of the city it was filmed in. And the movie doesn’t end like you would expect, which makes it different from other movies in the genre.

I timeless romantic comedy.

Rating: 4/ 5