Review of Roman Holiday, directed by William Wyler

I don’t know why, but lately I have been on such an Audrey Hepburn kick. I’ve been watching her movies specifically when I want a classic movie that is from the 1950s or 1960s. I am starting to realize that maybe I am not a Monroe girl, as her movies aren’t up my alley.

It took me so long though to originally watch an Audrey Hepburn movie. For so many years of being a film critic and running this blog on the side for fun, I didn’t watch many classic movies. It was all about the newest and greatest from around the world.

Once I quit that job I had more time to explore and be free, which I have been grateful for if we’re going to be honest. It’s been such a relaxing break. But I decided to watch Roman Holiday one Wednesday while cooking dinner, as I was making an Indian curry that needed a long time to simmer.

And this movie was perfect for the occasion! Here is my review before I get too deep into my rambles.

In Italy, a journalist unknowingly crosses paths with the princess he is supposed to be covering and interviewing for work.

In this movie, Audrey Hepburn portrays Ann, a Crown Princess of an unknown European country. She’s touring around Europe for her work as a princess, and her schedule has been packed to the gill. However, she’s starting to get tired of everything going on, and in Rome it comes to a breaking point.

After consulting with her doctor, he gives her an injection. He also has some advice for her: he tells her she needs to take a break by specifically saying she needs to do whatever has been on her mind lately. She takes this to heart and leaves the embassy, choosing to explore Rome.

But the injection has her falling asleep on top of a wall, and American reporter Joe finds her there. He thinks she’s just drunk, so for her safety he grabs her and brings her to his apartment (which is suspicious in itself from a modern perspective). Joe goes to bed, then oversleeps and misses the press conference he was supposed to attend with the princess.

As he tells his editor he went, the editor shows him the conference was cancelled. It’s then, when he sees a picture of the princess, that Joe realizes the woman in his apartment is her. He asks his editor how much he would pay for an interview, and he says $5,000.

He then calls his photographer friend to help him out, then tells the princess eh will show her around Rome. She says she has an appointment, and he follows her to a market. She buys shoes and cuts her hair, then he plans to meet her outside the Spanish Steps, where he then gets her to spend the day with him (with the photographer following).

As Ann drives them on a Vespa though, they get arrested. They show their press passes and are let free, then head to the next few rounds of tourist destinations. But as they get on a boat, Ann’s government agents try to bring her back, and Joe is knocked into the river. She jumps ina fter him, and they kiss.

When they go back to the apartment, a radio broadcast declares her people are concerned about her. Ann decides to go home, and kisses Joe goodbye while trying not to cry. She then gives a press conference saying her people reminded her of her duty.

Joe then has to admit to his editor that he did not get the story, and he tells the photographer he can sell the photographs. The duo attend the next press conference, where she admits Rome was her favorite place to visit. She continues speaking with the journalists, and Joe decides to remain in the room after everyone leaves.

Overall Thoughts

After finally getting myself together and seeing this movie, I could see why it’s a classic. This is what so many young adult and women focused fiction books are literally doing plot wise.

That said, I love Audrey. She’s the best part of this movie for me, and I loved how she chose her duty in the end. Others might find the romance a bit doomed from the start, but she’s choosing what she wants too. She had her taste of life with the journalist, but that’s not reality.

And who knows, it might work out for them. A lot of royals are now marrying more commoners—thinking of the Japanese royal family when I’m typing this. But I’m not too sure if I would revisit this movie if we’re going to be honest. Maybe if I’m having a weird nostalgia itch.

Go watch this if you have not already and want to. I think it might be worth picking up once!

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