Tired of royal protocol, a princess (Audrey Hepburn) escapes her handlers to enjoy a day of freedom in Rome.
She meets a handsome American (Gregory Peck) who agrees to act as her guide.
What she does not know is that her new friend is a journalist who sees her as his ticket back to the big time (and back home)…
This movie is a soufflé.
It depends on some elements which - if not handled delicately - could have tipped the film over into melodrama or an outright romance with a queasy underpinning.
What I mean is that this film is based on a familiar cliche I disdain - the lie.
Why it works is that both characters are lying, and their lies carry specific stakes for each of them.
And part of their rapport comes from Joe’s ultimate willingness to not exploit his knowledge of Princess Anne’s identity, or her own inexperience (he kisses her but recognises he is overstepping and restrains himself).
Audrey Hepburn is lightning in a bottle - a born ingenue.
In her first major role, she is perfect.
If there are moments where she appears slightly stilted, it works for the role of a royal who is used to a specific manner of speaking and acting.
This character has been forced to play a role for so long she is finding it hard to shake it off.
Cast against type, Gregory Peck seems loose and at ease.
It is odd to see him play someone so lacking in character, considering how much integrity he usually brings.
Frankly, Peck’s casting and character arc only works because he is cast against someone with an inherent naïveté (onscreen).
Roman Holiday is one of my favourite films.
It should not work. The premise almost feels like a fairy tale.
And yet the film is more cynical - or at least, it thinks it is.
That dance of tones, of world views, is what makes it so magical.
It earns its rueful, but happy ending.
Princess Anne gets a break from her regimented existence; Joe Bradley gains integrity.
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