Roman Holiday

Experience the greatest films from Hollywood’s Golden Age back on the big screen, every week at The Loft Cinema! 
 
Audrey Hepburn became a superstar with Roman Holiday, a charmingly romantic fairy tale in which the Oscar-winner plays Princess Ann, weary of protocol and anxious to have some fun before she is trapped by “affairs of state.” On a diplomatic visit to Rome, Anne escapes her royal retainers and scampers incognito through the Eternal City. She happens to meet American journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), who, recognizing a hot news story, pretends that he doesn’t recognize her and offers to give her a guided tour of Rome. Naturally, Joe hopes to get an exclusive interview, while his photographer pal Irving (Eddie Albert) attempts to sneak a photo. And just as naturally, Joe falls in love with her. Gorgeously filmed on location in Rome (watching Hepburn and Peck joyfully careening through the streets of Rome on a Vespa scooter is one of classic Hollywood’s greatest moments of cinematic tourism), Roman Holiday garnered a Best Actress Academy Award for the 24-year-old Hepburn, in her first starring role; Oscars also went to the stylish costumes by the legendary Edith Head and the sparkling screenplay, credited to Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton, but actually co-written by Dighton and blacklisted Hollywood writer Dalton Trumbo. (Dir. by William Wyler, 1953, USA, 118 mins., Not Rated)