Rating: 
Summary: BUT FOR ONE THING
Review: Being very weary one night, I decided to watch a video that had arrived in the mail the day before, which I had ordered as a prudent way to take my mind off recent problems. This was "Roman Holiday", with Audrey Hepburn - my favorite, and beloved, actress when I was young - and Gregory Peck. This is a remarkable film. For, as it happens, I sat cursing through virtually the whole of it at the insufferably stiff and offensive acting of Peck, disturbed by the brutally exploitative, fraudulent, and insensitive behavior which a script that - on the surface - seems mindlessly lame has given the actor in his role as a journalist. But then there occurs the astonishing - profoundly dramatic, symbolic, and moving, and socially and psychologically unique - finale, in which, much as a photographic print in its bath reverses absolutely the negative, the entire movie - all that has gone before, all the seeming clumsiness and error - suddenly develops backwards in one's mind, and reveals itself to have been an antithetic, perfect, and consummate work of art. Rarely have I encountered such an uncanny example of the transformative power of a frame to pluck sublimity out of bathos, and of the indeterminacy or misleading nature of the world but for one thing.
Rating: 
Summary: beautiful story
Review: I watched this film blind to the plot. It was very moving and completely enjoyable. I'd recommend this to people who love classics and even to those who don't. It leaves you with a warm feeling. It's cute, funny and a must see. Forgetting that it is in black and white is amazingly easy.
Rating:
Summary: used this film to plan a trip to Rome
Review: My cousin and I watched this film in 1994 -- and in 2000 we went to Rome and did everything that Audrey Hepburn did in the film. Hepburn plays Princess Ann on her European tour, attending functions and being formal. One night in Rome, she decides to chuck it all and escapes into the night, where she is found by journalist Joe Bradley (played by Gregory Peck) who recognizes who she is but keeps it secret. He figures that if he writes about what she does during her escape, it will be the news story he needs to get assigned back in the USA and leave Rome once and for all. Hepburn (whom they nickname "Smitty"), Peck, and his friend Eddie Albert spend a day in Rome together, touring sights, riding a Vespa and generally enjoying themselves, discovering a gorgeous city that neither of them would have really seen if it weren't for each other's company. The end is especially poignant, because it is really the only way it can end. You realize it is because Bradley actually loved the princess enough to do what was best for her, even if modern-day movie conventions would never have allowed for it.
Rating:
Summary: a perfect romantic comedy
Review: It took awhile, but I finally saw this film all the way through and, boy, am I glad I did. It's rare to find an onscreen couple with such great chemistry and magnistism. It's obvious in every moment of the film that Hepburn and Peck were having a marvelous time...or at least that's what they make you believe. This was Audrey's first major film role and it's not hard to see why she became an instant movie star. The camera just loves her and so will you. She plays Anya, a beleaguered European princess, who skips out on her duties just for one day and falls in love with an American reporter, played by the incredibly handsome Gregory Peck. This was the first film I've ever seen with a young Gregory and I have to say that I've really been missing something. I never released how handsome he was. They play off each other's strengths wonderfully, allowing you to really get under the skin of these two characters. You never find out what country Princess Anne is really from, but that doesn't really matter. She's her country's PR person and her presence is in constant demand at every state function under the sun while she's visiting Rome. The strain of having every minute of her time scheduled finally causes her to have a breakdown. Her secretary calls the doctor who gives her something to sleep. However, she escapes the castle before it takes effect and wanders into her own Roman adventure. She luckily finds herself in the very capable and honorable hands of Joe Bradley, a reporter exiled to Rome. He knows that one big story could pave his way back to the United States and once he discovers Anne's true identity he believes he's found his ticket home. What he doesn't anticipate is falling under her spell as she enjoys the only day of true freedom she has ever known. It's all about the money and fame at first, but in the end he just can't make himself blow the lid off her day of adventure. After all, she trusted him...and fell in love. Anne and Joe manage to do just about every fun thing there is to do in Rome in a day and it's fun to watch they're escapades. Though this is a romantic comedy, there are some poignant moments in the film, especially when the couple is forced to part. They never speak of her true identity, but both of them knows that what they're feeling can never exist outside this one stolen moment. It's a film that would never be made today because many people would consider the ending to be unhappy. I just consider it realistic. I have to admit I wanted it to be different, but that's life. It's a somewhat well-known fact that William Wyler wanted to direct this film in color, but I'm glad he didn't get his way. Black and white lends so much more style to movies. The way the light hits Audrey Hepburn's face is pure magic. It makes you concentrate more on the actors than the scenery. Wyler was considered one of the best woman's directors and this film is a pure example of why. This could have been just another hokey romantic comedy, but it's not. It stands the test of time because of the talent involved and the way the story is told. If you're looking for a realistic, fun romance ROMAN HOLIDAY is a must see. I can't wait to watch it again
Rating:
Summary: The Elegant Entrance of Audrey
Review: Roman Holiday may not be the perfect movie, but with a new little nymph named Audrey Hepburn introduced it sure leans that way. Hepburn plays a princess (what else?) who is on the run from her heritage as she explores her freedom. She is befriended by a reporter (played by an eerily old to be hitting on her Gregory Peck) and he takes her for a darling day on the town. Another plus for this film is that it was actually shot on the streets of Rome. This only adds to it's beauty. Hepburns charm as the naive princess is untouchable. Her subtle accent plays in your ear like soft violins and her eyes will make you melt. The film is a must see but it's Hepburn you can't stop admiring.
Rating:
Summary: A very good movie.
Review: I highly recommend this film. They don't make them like this anymore. "Roman Holiday," with Grgory Peck and th elovely Audrey Hepburn is a very romantic and entertaining story of a princess who falls in love with a newspaper man. It's a must see film.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Roman Holiday
Review: This romance-comedy story is by far the most romantic and classic fairy tale I have ever seen. It is delightful and delicate as a flower. Beautiful scenes. When are they going to release it in color and dvd? Audrey and Gregory have the magical chemistry that makes this movie everyone's favorite.
A must to see and treasure by young and old audience.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story, so where's it's DVD?
Review: One night on a whim, I checked out 3 films: L.A. Confidential, Roman Holiday & Pulp fiction. The strangest surprise I got when I watched LA Confidential, was seeing a clip of Roman Holiday playing in a movie theater, and in awe by the coincidental checkout I had made. This film stands as a one of the better film romances I have seen in a long time. Much better than most films released today. At the onset of our story, we find Princess Ann(Audrey Hepburn) fed up with her non-stop tour of Europe, doing nothing more than meeting with other dignitaries, sticking to an all-work schedule, and almost no time to herself. One evening, fed up with her tiresome regiment, she escapes from her country's Roman Embassy, and sets out into the city. Soon after, she is discovered sleeping on a bench by Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), a member of the US News Service. Because she's too tired to tell him where she lives, Joe takes her home, and the next day realizes that she is Princess Ann. however, Ann is reluctant to reveal this, and Joe plays along with her game, hoping to get a story out of it. He is soon accompanied by his friend Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert), who is there to help bring photographs to the story (but without Ann knowing). Their escapades take them from the busy streets, to scenic Roman tourist sites, and onto a barge for a nightly dance. But as the day wears on, the Princess and Joe soon find that secretly they have been falling in love. This story's romance plotline works so well, because it's not something as predictable as say, "You've Got Mail." There are no real romantic longings between these characters, just several instances of a mutual friendship, which of course is the basis for romance in my book. The film was shot entirely on locations in Rome, with the exception of several indoor set pieces. What's amazing is the amount of time and patience it took to make this movie, but it's small pennies considering a project director William Wyler would tackle in later years: directing the epic Ben-Hur. As for casting, almost everyone has said it best: Audrey Hepburn was the best candidate for Princess Ann. Her portrayal of Ann as a young woman who is torn by her duties and yet yearns to do normal things (go to sidewalk cafes, wear pajamas, and so on), is so succinct that we believe her. Gregory Peck was not the first choice, but after watching him in this film, I can't picture anyone else doing a better Joe Bradley for the film. He has that seriousness yet sympathetic nature that reminds me in some ways of Harrison Ford. Eddie Albert as Irving the photographer has some of the most incredibly funny moments in the film. I won't give any away, because you have to see them for yourself. As a film student, there are several technical problems, such as sound fazing, quick cuts that seem to puzzle the eye and so forth, but the story makes up for this. This film was nominated for 10 Oscars in it's day, winning 3: Best Actress (Hepburn), Best Costume, and Best Motion Picture Story. The one thing I am most displeased with about this film, has to do with Paramount Pictures. Out of numerous films they've released featuring Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday has yet to see an imprint on a DVD disc. This seems hard to believe, considering this was Hepburn's major debut, her first Oscar win, and yete a romance story that should be seen and heard in this age we live in today. I can't stress this enough, but if you want to watch a relaxing film, Roman Holiday is just right.
Rating:
Summary: Royal Success
Review: You can't go wrong with these leading stars-Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. They are both as gorgeous as ever, but even more importantly, as talented as ever. Joe Bradley, is charming as a newspaper reporter, trying to get the scoop on Princess Ann in order to get back in the good graces of his boss. Princess Ann is a stunning, polite young beauty who feels she is missing out on the fun of being a teenager and desires to live a normal life. For one brief moment, she gets to experience her dream, with Joe Bradley as her tour guide. The antics these two share on Princess Ann's Roman Holiday are a barrel of laughs. The ending is a real tear jerker, but even that can't prevent this from being one of the best movies ever made.
Rating:
Summary: A charming, delightful gem of a movie
Review: Nearly fifty years after it was made, "Roman Holiday" still brings a gleeful smile of pleasure and delight to its viewer, who will be undoubtedly charmed by this wonderful whimsy of a film. The story of a princess escaping her fairy tale life, and finding her own fairy tale outside the palace with a handsome newsman captivated audiences in 1953, and still does today. In her feature film debut, the delightful Audrey Hepburn shines as the gamine Princess Anne, who, loathing her tiresome, claustrophobic life as a royal family member, escapes from her caretakers while on a royal international tour in Rome. When a young newsman, Joe Bradley, (Gregory Peck) stumbles onto the naive young woman, he realizes who she is, and smelling the scoop of a lifetime, takes her on a holiday through the sights and pleasures of Rome while his photographer buddy Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert) relentlessly shoots pictures with all sorts of camouflaged gadgets. Joe and "Anya" bask in the joys of the lush city, from lunch at a sidewalk cafe (where the princess also enjoys her first cigarette) to a wild escapade on a runaway motorcycle, to a romantic moonlit dance by a lake... and before the pair realizes it, they've fallen for each other, but can they be together... a princess and a commoner? William Wyler directed this Oscar-winning masterpiece, nominated for, among other awards, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Eddie Albert, and winner for Audrey Hepburn as the year's Best Actress for her brilliant, utterly charming princess. A princess, indeed. Hepburn, the beautiful young gamine, is indeed every inch a princess in her sensitive and beautiful portrayal. Gregory Peck's rugged charm and humor are a perfect match for Hepburn, and the chemistry between the two is a joy to watch. The exquisite cinematography is extraordinary to see, even in black-and-white, and the lively script makes for many golden scenes: One scene in the beginning has Hepburn trying to retrieve a lost shoe during an Embassy dance, another has Hepburn getting her first haircut in an Italian salon, and the whole picture is worth the scene in which Peck dares Hepburn to put her hand into the infamous "Mouth of Truth": "Legend has it that if you're given to lying, it'll bite your hand off." Slyly demonstrating, he suddenly yells in agony as the terrified Hepburn screams. He brings his arm out with his hand disappeared, and Hepburn shrieks. But suddenly the hand pops through his coat jacket as Hepburn squeals with mock-fury. And the beautiful, beautiful scene by the lake as the two look into each other's eyes while they dance... what a heavenly feeling you get watching that scene alone. It's a charming film, absolutely beautiful. "Roman Holiday" is a movie about two people falling in love, and it's a movie that you will fall in love with too. This is a film to watch again and again with somebody you love... if you do, it's only that much more of a holiday.
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