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Roman Holiday Overview:

Roman Holiday (1953) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by William Wyler and produced by William Wyler, Robert Wyler and Lester Koenig.

SYNOPSIS

Hepburn steps lightly into the starring spotlight with this whimsical romance. As a rebellious young princess who longs to see the world beyond her velvet prison, Hepburn steals away from her entourage and links up with reporter Peck, who's been trying to get a glimpse of the beautiful royal. The two fall in love as they evade the prying eyes of other reporters and Hepburn's guardians. The Oscar-winning story from then-blacklisted Trumbo was fronted by McLellan Hunter; Trumbo was awarded a posthumous Oscar in 1993.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Roman Holiday was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1999.

Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorEddie AlbertNominated
Best ActressAudrey HepburnWon
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Hal Pereira, Walter TylerNominated
Best CinematographyFrank Planer, Henri AlekanNominated
Best Costume DesignEdith HeadWon
Best DirectorWilliam WylerNominated
Best Film EditingRobert SwinkNominated
Best PictureWilliam Wyler, ProducerNominated
Best WritingDalton TrumboWon
Best WritingIan McLellan Hunter, John DightonNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Roman Holiday BlogHub Articles:

Roman Holiday (1953): Escapism and Why That’s Okay Sometimes

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 18, 2017 From 4 Star Films

I’ve made a point of suggesting that the reason that I return to movies, again and again, is not because I go to them as an outlet of escapism but for the fact that films give us a little bit more insight into the lives we lead as human beings. In some ways, you could say I’ve even vehem... Read full article

Roman Holiday (1953): Escapism and Why That’s Okay Sometimes

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 18, 2017 From 4 Star Films

I’ve made a point of suggesting that the reason that I return to movies, again and again, is not because I go to them as an outlet of escapism but for the fact that films give us a little bit more insight into the lives we lead as human beings. In some ways, you could say I’ve even vehem... Read full article

A Princesa e o Plebeu / Roman Holiday (1953)

By Lê on Dec 5, 2015 From Critica Retro

A Princesa e o Plebeu / Roman Holiday (1953) Se você gosta de filmes antigos, já deve ter passado por esta situação: na ânsia de compartilhar sua paixão com as pessoas ao seu redor, recebeu como resposta uma careta e a recusa veemente de parar para ver um filme “velho”, em p... Read full article

On Location: Roman Holiday (1953)

By Julia on Nov 29, 2015 From Cinema Crossroads

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck Whenever I travel, I love visiting the filming locations of my favorite movies. This post is the first in my “On Location” series. One of my all-time favorite movies is hitting theaters again this week thanks to TCM and Fathom Events, who are sponsoring a... Read full article

Chicago Film Club field trip: “Roman Holiday” November 29 at The AMC East

By Stephen Reginald on Nov 19, 2015 From Classic Movie Man

Chicago Film Club field trip: “Roman Holiday” November 29 at The AMC East Where: AMC East 21, 322 East Illinois, Chicago, IL When: November 29, 2015 Time: 2:00 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Special Fathom Feature: Enjoy a specially produced introduction from Turner Classic Movies... Read full article

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Roman Holiday Quotes:

Princess Ann: What do you sell?
Joe Bradley: Er, fertilizer.
Joe Bradley: [after swimming ashore] All right?
Princess Ann: Fine. How are you?
Joe Bradley: Oh, fine!
[they laugh]
Joe Bradley: Say, you know, you were great back there.
Princess Ann: You weren't so bad yourself.
Joe Bradley: [kisses her] Well... I guess we'd better get Irving's car and get out of here.
Princess Ann: Do you have a silk nightgown with rosebuds?
Joe Bradley: I haven't worn a nightgown in years!
Irving Radovich: Hit him again, Smitty!
Princess Ann: I hate this nightgown. I hate all my nightgowns, and I hate all my underwear too.
Countess: My dear, you have lovely things.
Princess Ann: But I'm not two hundred years old. Why can't I sleep in pajamas?
Countess: Pajamas?
Princess Ann: Just the top part. Did you know that there are people who sleep with absolutely nothing on at all?
Countess: I rejoice to say I do not.
See More Quotes from Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday Facts
George Stevens was the next director to inherit the project after Frank Capra bailed, but Stevens declined to pursue it. The property was then offered to William Wyler, who was coming off the back of two very weighty dramatic movies - The Heiress and Detective Story - and was only too glad to tackle a light romantic comedy, his first since the mid 1930s. Wyler was also very keen to work abroad in order to exploit a tax loophole.
The airplane in which the Secret Service men arrive to search for Princess Ann is a very unusual type, the Breda-Zappata BZ.308, of which only one prototype was built in 1949 (for the Italian Air Force). It was scrapped shortly after its appearance in the movie.
The first American film to be made in its entirety in Italy.
Audrey Hepburn won the role of Ann thanks to a legendary screen test. In it, she performed one of the scenes from the film, but the cameraman was instructed to keep the cameras rolling after the director said, "Cut." Several minutes of unrehearsed, spontaneous Hepburn was thus captured on film and this, combined with some candid interview footage, won her the role.
Ann and Joe get into an argument over which poet wrote the words that Ann quotes, "Arethusa rose from her couch of snows in the Acroceraunian mountains." Joe was right; it's from the poem "Arethusa" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
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