Creative Work attributes
Other attributes
Roman Holiday is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance; the screenplay and costume design also won.
The script was written by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, though with Trumbo on the Hollywood blacklist, he did not receive a credit; instead, Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for him. Trumbo's credit was reinstated when the film was released on DVD in 2003. On December 19, 2011, full credit for Trumbo's work was restored. Blacklisted director Bernard Vorhaus worked on the film as an assistant director under a pseudonym.
The film was shot at the Cinecittà studios and on location around Rome during the "Hollywood on the Tiber" era. The film was screened in the 14th Venice Film Festival within the official program.
In 1999, Roman Holiday was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Plot
Ann, a crown princess from an unnamed European nation on a state visit to Rome, becomes frustrated with her tightly scheduled life and secretly leaves her country's embassy. The delayed effect of a sedative makes her fall asleep on a bench, where Joe Bradley, an expatriate reporter for the "American News Service", finds her, without recognizing who she is. Thinking that she is intoxicated, Joe lets her spend the night in his apartment.
The next morning, Joe hurries off late to work and gives his editor, Mr. Hennessy, false details of his attendance at the princess's press conference. When Hennessy informs him that the event had been cancelled and shows him a news item about the princess's "sudden illness" with a picture of her in it, he realizes who is asleep in his apartment. Seeing an opportunity, Joe privately calls his photographer friend, Irving Radovich, to get him to secretly take pictures. Joe then tells Hennessy that he will get an exclusive wide-ranging interview with the princess and asks how much that would be worth. Hennessy offers to pay $5000, but bets Joe $500 that he will not be able to get it.
Joe hurries home and, hiding the fact that he is a reporter, offers to show "Anya" around Rome. However, Ann declines Joe's offer and leaves. Enjoying her freedom, she explores an outdoor market, buys a pair of shoes, observes the people and daily life of Rome, and gets her long hair cut short. Joe follows and "accidentally" meets Ann on the Spanish Steps. This time, he convinces her to spend the day with him, taking her to a street café where he meets up with Irving. When Anya tries to drive Joe on a Vespa through heavy Roman traffic they are all arrested, but Joe and Irving show their "fake" press passes and the group is set free. They visit the Mouth of Truth, where Joe tricks Ann into thinking that his hand has been bitten off, and later tour the Colosseum.
That night, at a dance on a boat that her barber had invited her to, government agents called in by the embassy spot Ann and try to forcibly take her away. Joe, Irving, and the barber rush in to save her from the abductors. Ann joins in the fight that breaks out. As police arrive and subdue the agents, Joe and Ann run away, but after Joe is ambushed and falls into the river, Ann jumps in to save him. They swim away from the dance and kiss as they sit shivering on the riverbank. Later at Joe's apartment, while drying their wet clothes, they share tender bittersweet moments. Regretfully bowing to her royal responsibilities, Ann asks Joe to drive her to a corner near the embassy, where they kiss again. She bids a tearful farewell and resumes her duties as a princess.
Joe decides not to write the story, although he tells Irving he is free to sell his photographs. Joe and Irving then leave to attend the postponed press conference at the embassy, much to Princess Ann's surprise. Joe assures Ann (in words she, but not the other reporters, will understand) that he will print nothing about their day together. At the end of the interview, the princess unexpectedly asks to meet the journalists, speaking briefly with each. As she reaches Joe and Irving, Irving presents her with his photographs as a memento of Rome. She and Joe share a few innocuous words together, before she reluctantly departs. After the rest of the press leave, Joe stays for awhile, then walks away alone.
Awards and nominations
Oscars
Best Motion Picture - William Wyler - Nominated
Best Director - William Wyler - Nominated
Best Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won
Best Supporting Actor - Eddie Albert - Nominated
Best Screenplay - Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton - Nominated
Best Story - Dalton Trumbo - Won
Best Art Direction – Black-and-White - Hal Pereira and Walter H. Tyler - Nominated
Best Cinematography – Black-and-White - Franz Planer and Henri Alekan - Nominated
Best Costume Design – Black-and-White - Edith Head - Won
Best Film Editing - Robert Swink - Nominated
Bambi Awards
Best Actor – International - Gregory Peck - Nominated
Best Actress – International - Audrey Hepburn - Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
Best Film - Nominated
Best Foreign Actor - Eddie Albert - Nominated
Best Foreign Actor - Gregory Peck - Nominated
Best British Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures - William Wyler - Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama - Audrey Hepburn - Won
Huabiao Film Awards
Outstanding Translated Foreign Film - Won
National Board of Review Awards
Top Ten Films - 6th Place
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Registry - Inducted
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Film - Nominated
Best Actress - Audrey Hepburn - Won
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture - Won
Venice International Film Festival
Golden Lion - William Wyler - Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards
Best Written American Comedy - Ian McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo and John Dighton - Won