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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:

Joe Bradley: Would you like a cup of coffee?
Princess Ann: What time is it?
Joe Bradley: About one thirty.
Princess Ann: One thirty! I must get dressed and go!
Joe Bradley: *Why*. What's your hurry? There's lots of time.
Princess Ann: No, there isn't, and I've been quite enough trouble to you as it is.
Joe Bradley: Trouble?... You're not what I'd call trouble.
Princess Ann: [she smiles] I'm not?
Joe Bradley: I'll run a bath for you.
Princess Ann: [as Ann and Joe dance] Hello.
Joe Bradley: Hello.
Princess Ann: Mr. Bradley, if you don't mind my saying so, I think you are a ringer.
Joe Bradley: Wha - oh, thanks very much.
Princess Ann: You spent the whole day doing things I've always wanted to. Why?
Joe Bradley: I don't know. Seemed the thing to do.
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.
Irving Radovich: Hit him again, Smitty!
Joe Bradley: Irving! Am I glad to see you!
Irving Radovich: Why? Did you forget your wallet?
See More Quotes from Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday Facts
First choices for the part of the princess were Jean Simmons and Suzanne Cloutier. Elizabeth Taylor was also considered for the part. Both Taylor and Simmons had to be immediately ruled out as they were preoccupied with other projects at the time.
The story was originally optioned by Frank Capra in 1949, who had hoped to cast Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor in what would essentially amount to being a variation on his Oscar-winning classic, It Happened One Night. However, Capra's Liberty Films production company was beset with financial problems and he was forced to sell the property to Paramount where a combination of political timidity (Capra discovered the involvement of blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo) and a tight budget prompted him to withdraw from the project. William Wyler, however, had no compunctions whatsoever about working with Trumbo.
When filming the scene where the princess (Audrey Hepburn) says her goodbyes to Joe, the inexperienced Hepburn was unable to produce the necessary tears, eventually causing director William Wyler to complain at the number of wasted takes. Hepburn promptly burst into tears and the scene was filmed successfully.
A lot of the film's success was attributed to the public's then fascination with Britain's Princess Margaret who was creating a stir over her much publicized relationship with commoner Peter Townsend. (The Princess was forced to renounce her true love because he was divorced and marry more "suitably".)
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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