Roman Holiday (Reissue)

Stars: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert, Tullio Carminati, Hartley Power, Margaret Rawlings, Harcourt Williams

Director: William Wyler

A 70th anniversary 4K restoration for Wyler's enchanting romantic comedy which, after good work in British films, made Audrey Hepburn an enduring Hollywood star.

The flimsy plot, mercifully free of romantic ballads on the soundtrack, concerns a princess who spends 24 hours incognito in Rome, squired by a reporter (Peck) and photographer (Albert), who are well aware of her real identity and are out for a scoop for their paper.

A series of small but delightful incidents subtly builds up our identification with these characters, lending great charm to the venture and making its climax a truly moving movie moment.

Albert offers a richly humorous account of the paparazzo, while Peck's casual romantic style is ideally suited to the role of the journalist. As the princess, Hepburn brought a unique blend of naive charm, refinement and elegance to the part that not only made her Hollywood's newest star, but won her an Oscar.

David Quinlan

USA 1953. UK Distributor: Park Circus (originally Paramount). Black and white.
118 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 02 Feb 2023