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).

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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
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BlogHub Articles:

The Making of Roman Holiday

By Amanda Garrett on May 5, 2018 From Old Hollywood Films

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck on the Spanish Steps in Roman Holiday (1953). Roman Holiday (1953) is one of old Hollywood's most beloved films, featuring a star-making performance by Audrey Hepburn and beautiful location shooting in the Eternal City. In honor of the upcoming wedding of Prince ... 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


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 L? on Dec 5, 2015 From Critica Retro

A Princesa e o Plebeu / Roman Holiday (1953) Se voc? gosta de filmes antigos, j? deve ter passado por esta situa??o: na ?nsia de compartilhar sua paix?o com as pessoas ao seu redor, recebeu como resposta uma careta e a recusa veemente de parar para ver um filme “velho”, em preto e... 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


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Quotes from

Mr. Hennessey: In view of the fact that our Highness was taken violently ill at three o'clock this morning, put to bed with a high fever, and has ordered all her appointments for the day cancelled in toto...
Joe Bradley: That's certainly pretty hard to swallow.
Mr. Hennessey: In view of the fact that you just left her, of course.


Princess Ann: Do you have a silk nightgown with rosebuds?
Joe Bradley: I haven't worn a nightgown in years!


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.


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Facts about

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.
William Wyler at first wanted Jean Simmons to play Ann, and reportedly nearly canceled the project when Simmons proved unavailable.
By the time he got the script for this film, Gregory Peck was hungry to do a comedy (he had not been in a comedy on film) and jumped at this opportunity. He later said that, at the time, he felt like every romantic comedy script he had the chance to read "had the fingerprints of Cary Grant on it".
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Roman Holiday

Released 1953
Inducted 1999
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