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Summary: CLASSIC 'COMFORT FOOD' CINEMA GETS 5-STAR DVD TREATMENT.
Review: "Roman Holiday" hasn't remained an audience and critical favorite simply based on sentiment. It remains a delightful and romantic tale (undoubtedly rooted in fantasy) that can be viewed repeatedly without losing any charm. The usual synonym for Audrey Hepburn's performance (enchanting) is still true after 50 years. The DVD transfer is one of the best I've seen; if you suspend reality for a while you would swear it was the print of a brand-new film. The clarity and sound are excellent and the extras are a real treat for diehard fans of the movie. When my aunt finally relented and purchased a DVD player, this was the first movie I sent her to start her collection. What better compliment can there be for this ageless classic?
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Summary: Simply charming
Review: There are few movies ever made that come even close to rivaling the sheer charm of "Roman Holiday." It is a rare example of a perfect film. Audrey Hepburn is so very beautiful that she could melt stone, which is exactly why Gregory Peck is perfect playing opposite her. He is the only leading man of his days that could possibly not fall in love with Princess Ann from the very first moment he meets her. The romance is helped along by the on-location shooting in Rome, with some very lovely locations. "Roman Holiday" has such a simple story, and such an uncomplicated feeling, that one is free to simply be in love with everything. The DVD is well worth owning, as the restored Black and White is by far the best print I have seen, including theatrical showings. Nice extra features including a few interesting documentaries.
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Summary: A beautiful story with two great actors, Hepburn and Peck
Review: You hear about Audry Hepburn and her classic charm, sophistication, and beauty but her true gift is in those captivating expressions she puts forth with her beautiful eyes. She and the handsome Gregory Peck have beautiful chemistry on-screen and this is a truly engaging, sweet, and endearing love story that anyone would enjoy. It's a well-written and superbly directed picture with two actors perfectly cast in thier roles. I highly recommend this film.
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Summary: OSCAR WINNING HEPBURN IN A CHARMING ROMANCE!
Review: Audrey Hepburn won her Best Actress Academy Award the first time out in director, William Wyler's "Roman Holiday". The plot concerns itself with a princess, tired of her royal duties, who decides to play hooky from the palace for one day and winds up falling for a handsome American newspaper journalist. Gregory Peck co-stars.
Paramount Home Video has painstakingly restored "Roman Holiday" to its original luster. From the opening credits to the final, heart-breaking fade out, this is a magical DVD viewing experience. Contrast, gray scale, and clarity are superb. A few minor instances of pixelization (and I mean extremely minor) do not distract from this beautiful presentation. The soundtrack is mono but digitally remastered for a fresh, crisp sound and remarkably low background hiss. Extras include a a couple of documentaries, one on the film, another on resident fashion designer, Edith Head. Also trailers and a stills gallery. An "A-1" treatment for a first class fantasy that continues to charm us from beginning to end! GET IT TODAY!
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Summary: Huge *Sigh* Factor!
Review: I felt compelled to write a review of this film for several reason. First and foremost because this is one of my all-time favorite films. I never tire of watching this film over and over and sharing with others that have not yet had the pleasure of watching it. I also wanted to write this review because so many younger movie fans immediately dismiss older films and especially black and white films. And lastly, I wanted to put my two cents in after reading the "professional critic's" review... mis-cast??? HOW could there ever be a more perfectly, better cast film??? Gregory Peck, who I had come to revere as Atticus Finch in "To Kill A Mockingbird" (he is the reason I wanted to become a lawyer when I was child), and Audrey Hepburn has the perfect mix of innocence and fearlessness for her role as the rebellious Princess. Even Eddie Albert as the comedic side-kick was ideal. This film follows a Princess who, at first glance, lives an enviable life of wealth and fame and glamour. I have always had a hard time finding any compassion for the complaints of similar people be it in real life or on film, but somehow Audrey Hepburn pulls it off and it is not difficult to cheer for her as she experiences such basic things as deciding how her hair should be cut and eating an ice cream. While Gregory Peck is undeniably smooth as the rogue American journalist, he also is able to pull off the needed sleaziness to make his role beleivable. You have to be able to understand his initial motivation does NOT come from a "good place", but merely out of greed and selfishness.... but then you have to also beleive his change of heart and its subtleness. And it works. He doesn't suddenly wake up and have a change of heart. You can see his transformation, or relevation as it may be, over the course of the film. As a closet romantic I have to say I always secretly hope there will be a better ending (and by "better" I do not mean in terms of movie quality. I mean in terms of a classic "happy ending"). The final scene is heart wrenching, yet the only plausible possible way it could end. I am always left wondering what the heck happened later, despite knowing full well the answer... and it isn't necessarily what we'd all like to imagine. But I respect the fact that the movie doesn't spell it out and doesn't wrap it all up in a lovely bow. Still a tear-jerker ending, but exactly as it should be. Please see this movie. You will want to own it afterwards I promise. And don't be fooled, it is not just some old, out-dated "chick flick." It's just good. Oh yeah, and that *sigh factor*... HUGE! Enjoy and share with younger audiences so this classic will never be lost to modern blockbusters.
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Summary: Thank you, Paramount!!
Review: Finally, someone understands that the best "feature" for a DVD is the movie itself! In this age of one money-grab DVD release after another, each with a less and less relevant set of "extras" than the last, it is a pure joy to find a true Collector's Edition that puts all of its focus squarely where it should: on the film itself (and what a film!). Roman Holiday is a wonderful movie, a no-brainer purchase by default for anyone who loves Audrey Hepburn (which I believe would be anyone who's ever seen her, but I'm biased), but it is the meticulous and caring restoration of it that makes this DVD so spectacular. Instead of just slapping a visually tired print onto DVD media and throwing in completely inane extras that no one would care about (like having people "comment" incoherently and meaninglessly over the length of the film, or having scans of every doodle that anyone on the team ever casually scrawled out on a cocktail napkin, etc. ad nauseum), Paramount did the right thing, and devoted the time, money, and skill to restore this classic film back to its gorgeous original visual form. As for the extras, what is included is more than fine with me. They are made up of a selected handful of relevant, watchable content, intead of the usual avalanche of meaningless garbage that most DVD "extras" lists are comprised of lately. The only thing I could have asked for is more footage from Audrey's screen test if possible; she is as mesmerizing in it as she is in the film itself. If I do have one beef with this DVD, it is the tiniest: I don't like the artificial coloring that was used for the packaging. It doesn't look very good, for one thing, and, by implication, it slightly cheapens the homage that the restoration work pays to this classic Black & White masterpiece. Otherwise though, I can't rate this product highly enough. It would have been easy for Paramount to take the low road, as most other companies (with the exception of Criterion, seemingly) choose to, but they didn't, and as a result, we are all lucky enough to have this all-but-perfect version of Roman Holiday available. It's one of the very rare DVDs that is obviously a labor of love, and you owe it to yourself to own it. Not only is it worth more than its reasonable price, but Paramount very much deserves the gratitude of this film's fans and our votes with our dollars. Thank you, Paramount, for really GETTING it, and for giving us Audrey's breakthrough film at it and her most radiant!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: This just has to be the most delightful and enjoyable fantasy movie ever. The story is very simple and a bit unbelievable, but the performances of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck were superb, and made this just a great little movie. In the closing scenes there is just so much emotion shown in the eyes of these two performers, something mostly unseen in today's movies. Totally enjoyable with no nudity, violence or bad language. We highly recommend it.
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Summary: AFI's Great Love Stories: #9 Roman Holiday
Review: "Roman Holiday" was the only film in the American Film Institute's Greatest Love Stories top 10 that I had not seen, so Valentine's Day seemed like a good time to rectify that glaring omission in my film viewing. Like six other films at the top of the AFI's list it is one in which the couple do not live happily ever after, proving once again that those are indeed the most romantic tales to be told. This 1953 film directed by William Wyler is an interesting counterpoint to the wedding of Grace Kelly three years later. Here we have common Gregory Peck as Joe Bradley, a correspondent for the American News Service in Rome, who by happenstance comes the exquisite Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann (a.k.a. Anya "Smitty" Smith). On a tour of all the great cities of Europe on behalf of her country (located somewhere in Eastern Europe), the princess is bored beyond belief (conveyed perfectly by a slight problem with her right shoe during a very long reception line). Expressing her displeasure does no good; the doctor simply slips her a sedative. However, before it goes into effect Princess Ann manages to sneak out of the embassy where eventually she is found asleep by our guy Joe. There is an appropriate period of confusion before it dawns on Joe who he has sleeping in his bed (well, actually, the cot next to his bed). Of course, all Joe can think of is that he has an exclusive on the unvarnished thoughts of the most famous princess in the world while Ann is focused on enjoying the freedom of being out and about in the real world. Eventually they stop thinking about themselves and notice each other. The film won Oscars for Hepburn for Best Actress, Writing for Ian McLellan Hunter and Dalton Trumbo, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White for Edith Head, and that triad pretty much defines the film's charm. Hepburn looks exquisite, whether we are talking about that lovely face or the stunning outfits, and the story makes marvelous use of the setting of Rome (I bet thousands upon thousands of people have gone to the Eternal City as the most romantic place on earth). Joe is added and abetted by Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert), who plays the Sancho Panza comic relief role in the proceedings, albeit always at least one step behind. Irving is a photographer, and what he knows is that "It's always open season on princesses." Of course, we know better and just sit back and enjoy the festivities until the major players in this film are on board with the program. Most romantic line(s): Him: "You should always wear my clothes"; Her: "I don't know how to say goodbye. I can't think of any words." If you like "Roman Holiday," then check out these other films on AFI's list: #31 "The King and I" and #82 "Witness." Why? Because these are also films where giant gulfs are created by the different worlds from which the two lovers come (one of which does the royalty angle).
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: This movie is a classic. Heburn and Peck have great chemistry. The movie is funny and entertaining. It is about a princess who runs away and tries to enjoy her freedom as a normal girl. Little does she know that her new friends are aware of her identity and are trying to get an exclusive story on her. If you like Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, classic movies, comedies, or simply being entertained you should definitely try this movie. Now it is even sweeter because it is out on DVD. The DVD is lovely. It has a beautiful animated menu with bonus features such as documentaries, a photo gallery, and even clips from Hepburn's audition. Buy it. You will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Viva Vespa!
Review: An excellent USA/FOREIGN film with the beauty of Audrey Hepburn and the Vespa rolled up into one! My 6 year old loves this movie....(1) because there's a princess and (2) the Vespa. Something to be said. Carefree and accountable 60's at it's best! PS..My girls bought me a vintage Vespa for my 50th birthday! Viva Vespa!
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