Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Run time: 118 minutes Rating: Nr
Maybe it doesn't quite live up to its sterling reputation, and maybe the leading man and director were slightly miscast. But who cares? Roman Holiday is the film that brought Audrey Hepburn to prominence, and the world movie audience went weak at the knees. The endlessly charming Hepburn had her first starring role in this sweet romance, playing a European princess on an official tour through Rome. Frustrated by her lack of connection to the real world, she slips away from her protective handlers and goes on a spree, aided by a tough-guy news reporter (Gregory Peck). Director William Wyler, more at home with such heavy-going, Oscar-winning classics as The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben- Hur, doesn't always keep the champagne bubbles afloat, and the Peck role would have fit Cary Grant like a silk glove. But the film is great fun, the location shooting is irresistible, and Hepburn embodies an image of chic style that would rule for the rest of the fifties. No coincidence: she won an Oscar, and so did veteran costume designer Edith Head. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Roman Holiday, a classic:
This movie is enchanting. The scenes of Rome make you want to go there, and it is so well acted that you understand totally why Audrey Hepburn won an Oscar for her performance. There's an innocence in this film not often seen today, but there is also tension, sexual tension, and the struggle of making decisions based on what is the "right" thing to do as opposed to what will make money, or ignore or avoid personal responsibility. All this woven into a love story, a comedy and the show place of Rome!
Roman Holiday for the holidays!:
Everything about this is good. We have lost touch with the traditional ways of our country and culture - this brings it all back - what a terrific story.
Roman Holiday:
Even tho it's from the 50's and in B&W (a turnoff for a lot of people) the movie is wonderful, the scenes are still fresh & funny; delightful scenes of Rome and Life in the 50's. She stays all night, still a virgin in the morning? everyone isn't having sex with everyone on camera? No one gets MURDERED??? no gore? Believe it or not, if a film is written and acted brilliantly - and here you have 3 of the great actors of all time -- a movie doesn't need shock value to be great, and this film proves it!
"Rome! By all means, Rome":
A princess (Audery Hepburn) is petty much a prisoner of her position; she is on a European tour. While in Rome she has an opportunity to escape her overseers and join the local festivities. A freelance reporter (Gregory Peck) accidentally spots her hand knows who she is. Out for an exclusive interview he pretends to be a businessman and befriends her. Together they see the real Roam accompanied by his incognito photographer pal (Eddie Albert.) Does the reported get his exclusive and a ticket back to... more info
