Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Writing Credits: Dalton Trumbo, Ian McLellan Hunter
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Margaret Rawlings, Eddie Albert, Harley Power, Harcourt Williams

    Roman Holiday is the fanciful, light tale of a Princess (Hepburn) who meets and falls in love with a reporter (Peck) by chance. The Princess, Anne, is touring Europe in order to promote good relations with her home country. Sick of acting the part of royalty, however, Anne sneaks out the night before a press conference in Rome. She is found on the street by John, the reporter, who recognizes her but pretends not to be aware of who she is. He takes her back to his apartment, where she rests. The next morning John goes to his office, where he lies and says he has already been to the press conference. His supervisor informs him that the conference was canceled, there are reports that Princess Anne is sick. John, in response, realizes his opportunity and promises his boss an exclusive interview with the Princess. He then arranges it so Anne (calling herself ÒAnya and pretending to be a student) thinks she is out for a day of new experiences, while JohnÕs friend photographs all the adventures. The day ends with all of them attending a waterfront bar, where they get in a fight with several of the other customers. At the dayÕs end, John and Anne kiss, only to part. The next day, Anne holds the press conference with John in attendance. There, they must say good-bye, even if not in so many words.
    WylerÕs Roman Holiday is a classic film of the 1950Õs. While the end is sad, almost tragic, the feel of the movie is airy and hopefully, echoing the atmosphere of the 1950Õs. In Anne, there is a sense of discovery and hope, much like America at this time. She is breaking out of her old mold, experiencing the newness of the world. After WWII, America had a rebirth, and its whole culture and outlook evolved into something hopeful but worldly, exactly like Anne herself. Roman Holiday is a bit of the 1950Õs and AmericaÕs attitude captured in time and Audrey HepburnÕs smile.