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

Top 5 Thursday: Classic Movie Stars

My daily talk is about movies, movies popular today and the actors and actresses in those films. Sometimes I also like to think and talk about the stars that we once had. The classic movie stars. Here are my favorites.

5. Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly is most famous for his roles in “Singin’ in the Rain”, which I absolutely love, and “An American in Paris”. He was a dominant force in Hollywood musical films from the mid 1940s until this art form fell out of fashion in the late 1950s.

4. Marilyn Monroe
Not just a famous Hollywood actress, but also a model, singer, showgirl and sex symbol. Starred in “The Seven Year Itch”, “All About Eve”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Some Like it Hot”. An icon in her time and never will she be forgotten.

3. James Dean
James Dean was a cultural icon. “Rebel Without a Cause”, where he played troubled teenager Jim Stark, defined his stardom. Later he starred in “East of Eden” and “Giant” which were also a great success. Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films. He died too young.

2. Audrey Hepburn
The only British actress on this list. She wasn’t only an actress, Hepburn was also a humanitarian. She was actually always very modest about her acting, which makes her likeable. Favorites off course “Breakfast at Tiffanies” and “My Fair Lady”.

1. Marlon Brando
Brando was, besides a fantastic actor, also a political activist. Brando had a significant impact on film acting, and was the foremost example of the "method" acting style. Great movies like “On the Waterfront” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” and later “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”. What an actor!

They almost made the top 5: Grace Kelly, Eva Gardner and Paul Newman

Elisabeth, Emma, Ryan and Audrey

I made some new wallpapers. The first one features Elisabeth Harnois, one of the the new "CSI" stars of season 12.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, a great movie couple. I still haven't seen "Crazy, Stupid, Love" because nobody wanted to go and see it with me. I will have to waitn for the DVD.

And last, Audrey Hepburn. A beautiful picture, I just had to make a wallpaper with it.

Pic Spam: Audrey Hepburn

She's my favorite classic actress. I just bought a new calender for 2012, with pictures of Audrey Hepburn. That inspired me to dedicade a pic spam to her.