Rating: 
Summary: Simply wonderful
Review: What a wonderful movie! What a great romantic fantasy!
It is one of my all-time favorites, one of the films I could watch several times, without getting bored. I don't think that the plot is important here, but the way the actors performed and the place where the story is set.
In Rome, a European princess manages to escape the rigid and boring life and have and unforgettable experience, living for one day as a normal person. She does all the things that she was not allowed to do before, such as cutting her hair, eating ice-cream, strolling down the streets and why not, falling in love with an ordinary man. This is the role that brought Audrey Hepburn an Oscar and made her a well-known star.
It is the natural and ingenuous performance that makes her such a charming and unforgettable character, a graceful presence on the screen. Her companion is Gregory Peck who has also a great performance and makes the film even more delightful. He plays the part of a young and charming journalist, looking for news that might increase sales of his newspaper and bring some money in his pocket. The DVD includes also a section with a kind of "making of": interviews of the people who participated at the shooting, memories, etc. This is even more interesting, as you will have the chance to listen to the people who were involved in this project, and the stories behind the scene. You will also see that time did not alter too many of Audrey Hepburn's features and even at an older age she still looks refined and elegant. I have one complain about this movie: 118 minutes seemed to be not enough for such a romantic story. I believe that everyone of us would like to dream about what is like to be lost in the "eternal city" for one day and enjoy the simple things of life.
Rating: 
Summary: A little odd, but somehow it works...
Review: When you think Gregory Peck, you might picture General MacArthur, or even Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Perfectly at home in gritty drama, Peck seems an odd fit as Joe Bradley, a course newspaper reporter in search of a big story. Even so, Peck does fit, as does Audrey Hepburn in her star-making role as Princess Ann -- the girl (and the story) who turns up in Peck's apartment. While never truly soaring, "Roman Holiday" is a delight to watch as Peck, Hepburn and Eddie Albert (as an unscrupulous photographer) escapade through Rome. The star quality alone make the movie worth watching; William Wyler's excellent direction and the picturesque scenery (even in black and white) make this a gem worth adding to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: A Holiday in Rome for All Who See This Delightful Film
Review: This film has lost none of its charm since it was first released more than 50 years ago. Audrey Hepburn's performance as Princess Anne earned her an Academy Award for best actress in a leading role. If metropolitan areas were also eligible, Rome would have provided her strongest competition; in no other film has it looked lovelier. Director William Wyler brilliantly coordinates Hepburn's performance with those of Gregory Peck (Joe Bradley. a journalist) and Eddie Albert (Irving Radovich, a photographer). There really is not much to the plot. While visiting Rome, a beautiful young princess decides to take a holiday from her royal obligations. Of course, she sneaks out of her mansion one evening dressed casually, has too much to drink, is "rescued" from any possible trouble by a journalist (Peck) who does not at first recognize her, briefly explores the city under his supervision, and then returns to her royal obligations. And of course, the journalist falls in love with her. For that reason, he decides not to take advantage of her to produce with his associate (Albert) an exclusive feature story with numerous photographs of her roman holiday. On and off the screen, there was mutual respect and affection between Peck and Hepburn. Provided with an Academy Award-winning screenplay (co-authored by Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dichton, and Dalton Trumbo) and under Wyler's direction, they create a unique form of magic together in this film which is as much a holiday in Rome for the viewer as it is for the young princess. I am reluctant to call it a "romp" because of its style, grace, and wit but it certainly has a number of playful moments. The final sequence, Princess Anne's press conference, is presented with exquisite taste, especially when she and Bradley reluctantly bid each other an obviously fond but necessary farewell. I hasten to add that, in my opinion, Eddie Albert's talents as a versatile actor have never really received the recognition and appreciation they and he deserve. (He is outstanding as Captain Erskine Cooney in Attack!, as Mr. Corcoran in The Heartbreak Kid, and as Warden Hazen in The Longest Yard.) I cannot think of another actor better suited for the role of Irving Radovich. Others in the supporting cast are also first-rate but the dominant images are of Hepburn and Rome, as well they should be.
Rating:
Summary: Both a Roman and romantic holiday for princess and viewer
Review: Roman holiday-a time of enjoyment derived from the suffering of others. Well, that's a dictionary's definition, but I guarantee that suffering is the diametric opposite for anyone watching Audrey Hepburn's starring debut. Ms. Hepburn stars as Princess Anne of some unnamed European kingdom. Fed up with her heavily scheduled public relations agenda in the Eternal City, Anne goes into hysterics and flees the palace, but not before the doctor injects her with a powerful sedative. She's rescued by Joe Bradley, a reporter with the American News Service, who takes her to his apartment and being a gentleman, does not take advantage of her in her drugged-out state. It isn't long before he finds out who she is and after tailing her, "bumps" into her on Rome's Spanish Steps, where she's had a new haircut and enjoying an ice cream. There was difficulty in shooting this scene due to the heckling of spectators. Bradley enlists the aid of Irving Radovic, a photographer, promising to cut him in on an exclusive story he wants to make on the princess. Some of the things he does to Irving to prevent their game from getting rumbled would only work in this kind of comedy. Together, the princess, ostensibly incognito to her charges, gets the free day she wants. Her half-lie that she's a schoolgirl playing hookey only makes her outing all the more fun. The title concept holds true as Anne goes walkabout while causing her chaperones much alarm, to the extent of sending men-in-black after her. Also, Anne's excursion takes place in the Eternal City after all. But it's also one for Bradley, whose boss wants him to get an exclusive on the princess, and Bradley's initial exploitative objective eventually turns into a holiday he wants Anne to have. Also, the phrase "Roman holiday" is derived from the gladiatorial contests the ancient Romans enjoyed, especially in the Colisseum, which ironically is where the half-insensate Anne mumbles as her place of residence to Bradley upon their first meeting. There are also a few bits of slapstick involved. One is the Mouth of Truth scene, the relic sculpted on the Colisseum, a face with eyes and mouth. Legend says that if a liar sticks his/her hand in there, it will be bitten off. Something silly does happen, which I will not reveal. This was nominated for ten Academy Awards (but not Best Actor!!!) Surely Gregory Peck's solid, dependable, and ultimately romantically touched performance deserved a nomination at least? Eddie Albert (Irving) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (and lost). It also lost Best Picture, but won for original screenplay and costume design. Hmm, I seem to have forgotten one, but which one? Hmm... All kidding aside, Audrey Hepburn won, beating out Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, and Leslie Caron for Best Actress. And it took five years for it to reach production. Writer John Dighton was actually blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. Co-writer Ian McClellan Hunter had to act as a front, taking credit for the Oscar-winning story for 40 years until a posthumous Oscar was given to Trumbo's widow. Shot totally in Rome, this unforgettable movie marked Audrey Hepburn's road to stardom. Her photogenic quality is well demonstrated with a fetching smile, that graceful figure, and of course a charming personality. Watching this movie is itself a Roman holiday.
Rating:
Summary: Lighter Than Air
Review: ROMAN HOLIDAY is a perfect Saturday afternoon movie that's fun and romantic. Gregory Peck plays out-of-type (a romantic lead role) but it's only a very small complaint because he actually pulls it off. He is a little stiff, but it was the right choice to play off Audry Hepburn's shy awkwardness. Princess Anne(Hepburn)escapes her regal duties of scheduled appearances to go off wandering in the streets of Rome incognito. She ends up spending the day with reporter undercover Joe Bradly (Peck) who recognises her. He takes her on the town not revealing who he really is thinking he can get a hot story. It ends up more than an assignment, but a romantic romp through the streets of Rome. Great location shots in which the city of Rome ends up a major supporting role in the film. Another great supporting role is that of Eddie Albert (tv's GREEN ACRES and film, THE LONGEST YARD) as Joe Bradley's friend, Irving the news photographer who accompanies them on their jaunt through the city. Great script, great location shots, over the bar casting and great direction (William Wyler-BEN HUR) makes this a classic film through and through. Worth watching again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best classic love story ever told
Review: This is based on the VHS version of the movie "Roman Holiday" played by Audrey Hupburn and Gregory Peck. Story is simple and elegant. A newsman (Peck) accidently come across a drug-influenced certain Eastern European princess (Hepburn) who escaped from her resident Palace while on her official visit to Rome, the story was evolved around the couple , the camera friend of Peck, the Security guards who were desperately trying to get her back to Palace, and Peck's boss and the neighboring landlord. It is refreshing to see Peck / Hepburn's affectionate but innocent love affair after you have seen so many one-night-stand affairs in today's movies. Superb performance by both. This movie has brought Hepburn to super Stardom. Alas, they don't make movie like this any more. We don't have actor / actress like Peck and Hepburn neither. A movie you must see and appreciate.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Audrey Hepburn... with an Interesting "Backstory"
Review: This is by far one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies. In "Roman Holiday," Audrey plays a reluctant princess who escapes from her repressive royal life to have a one-day adventure in Rome... with Gregory Peck. This is a classic 1950s fairy tale romantic comedy. It's hard to believe that "Roman Holiday" was Audrey's first major film, because she's fabulous in it! She has a certain grace and charm that is unequaled. The Academy clearly agreed... Audrey won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Princess Ann. What most people don't know is that the script was an original creation by the famous screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo. Trumbo had already been blacklisted for refusing to answer HUAC's questions regarding his possible Communist affiliations. Trumbo was sentenced to a year in prison, and he spent his last few months of freedom working diligently on the "Roman Holiday" script. He was able to sell the script (for much lower than his usual price) by putting a friend's name on it. The money he earned from "Roman Holiday" took care of his family's needs while he was in jail. "Roman Holiday" is a fun, family-friendly romantic comedy. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: The film that introduced the world to Audrey Hepburn
Review: Yeah, she'd been around for a little while before this, but her part in Roman Holiday was the film that really introduced her to the world. My 32yo didn't really have any sense of who she was; to him, she was just a familiar name and face. We watched Roman Holiday together, followed by Breakfast at Tiffany's - and he looked at me as the credits rolled at the end and said, "Wow. Okay. I get it."
In Roman Holiday, Hepburn plays a European princess frustrated with her narrow world. She slips away from her handlers to have herself a little incognito fling in Rome - but she's recognized by a reporter, Gregory Peck. He woos her, snaps photos, and intends to publish and get famous, because of course she doesn't know who he is and acts completely natural - not regally royal. But then, well, he really falls for her. And finally, of course, she has to go back to the palace, where she holds an audience for the press - and there he is, her partner in crime who holds the power to ruin her.
It's terrific. She deservedly won an Oscar for the role.
Rating:
Summary: Light, feel-good romance in Rome
Review: Since my family is going to Italy this summer, my father had us watch Roman holiday because of the setting and all of the landmarks shown in the movie. It was my first Audrey Hepburn film, and it definately will not be my last. In this ligh hearted tale, a princess of a European country becomes fed up with her duties and sneaks out to enjoy a day in Rome, where she soon meets, and falls in love with, an american reporter. This movie is incredibly charming and very romantic, with one of the saddest endings that doesn't seem all that sad. I would recommend it to everyone, regardless of age or movie preference.
Rating:
Summary: It's always open season on princesses
Review: ROMAN HOLIDAY should appeal to everyone who loves a good romance, and this one is a great one. The rest us of will be well content with the splendor of Rome and the chance to see the remarkable Audrey Hepburn in her debut movie. In other words, ROMAN HOLIDAY has something for every palate.
The plot? Princess Ann (we're never quite sure which country she's princess of) is enduring a grueling tour of European nations. Weary to death of the royal treatment, one night Ann escapes into the Roman night. Unfortunately for her she had a while earlier been given an injection to help her sleep. The drug takes effect while she's out and about, and reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) discovers her asleep on a street bench. Believing she's inebriated, and being a gentleman, he tries to deliver her safely to her home. That plan fails and, being a gentleman, Bradley arranges for the young stranger (he doesn't learn she's the missing princess until the next scene) to sleep on the sofa in his small, one-room apartment.
Cary Grant was originally offered the part of Joe Bradley and he turned it down. One of the dvd's specials tells us he refused the role because he didn't want to play second fiddle to an ingenue. Maybe so. It's tempting to decide, on the basis of this scene, that Peck was woefully miscast. Ann, nearly asleep on her feet, asks Bradley "Will you help me undress?" A natural enough request coming from royalty, I guess. Bradley fumbles around with her neck scarf, unties it, hands it to her and says "You can handle the rest."
Peck plays the scene for a smile. Grant would have made it one of the highlights of the movie. After savoring the opportunity for the audience's delight he would have removed the tie and given the camera a quick peek, as if to say "Listen here, I know this is a cliched, silly situation. But doesn't this look like fun. Don't we make a handsome couple?" Grant was a supple pagan god who drank more than once from the well of hedonism, and he was always careful to bring the audience along for the good times. Peck was an Old Testament prophet, a little too stern and stiff to give himself over to pleasure.
What Peck brings to the role is authority and a handsome arm for Hepburn to rest on. Grant would have distracted us, and ROMAN HOLIDAY is best when our attention is focused squarely on Audrey Hepburn. She delivers a tour de force performance, and you can understand the excitement she generated even after a half century.
The specials include the documentary "Remembering ROMAN HOLIDAY", which surprised me with all the people who were involved and dropped out of the production of the movie. "Edith Head: The Paramount Years" is a short biography of the famous and talented fashion designer. "Restoring ROMAN HOLIDAY" shows us a number of before and after shots - this is a VERY clean print. There is also a trio of theatrical trailers and a stills photo gallery.
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