---
title: "Roman Holiday"
year: 1953
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/roman-holiday"
fi1m_score: 88
critics_score: 87
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-09-16T12:37:33.735923+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-16T12:37:33.925013+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Roman Holiday (1953)

Directed by William Wyler · 1h 59m · MPA G · Romance, Comedy, Drama

**Fi1m score: 88** · Critics 87 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* Audrey Hepburn makes us feel we have been wasting our days off

> William Wyler’s royal escape is a funny, tender romance made convincing by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The reporter’s deception gets an easy ride, but the pleasure of Ann’s freedom is worth sharing.

## Synopsis

For Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn), a visit to Rome means royal duties and the company of Countess Vereberg (Margaret Rawlings). She slips away from her guardians, hoping to have some time in the city without protocol dictating what she does. American newspaperman Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) sees a chance to secure a scoop about the runaway princess. Ann wants an ordinary day, and Joe has professional reasons to help her enjoy it. She has escaped her official minders without realising how much interest her private life might hold for her new companion.

## Review

William Wyler’s *Roman Holiday* makes the wish for a day without obligations seem entirely reasonable, even when the person making it is a princess. It is a funny, tender romance, and we recommend it despite a rather forgiving attitude towards its newspaperman. Ann’s escape from her guardians in Rome gives her the chance to enjoy herself without a royal schedule. Joe Bradley sees an opportunity to get a story, which is an unpromising basis for a pleasant day together.

Audrey Hepburn makes Ann’s sheltered upbringing visible without making her seem foolish. Her eagerness has the slight uncertainty of someone who has had little practice at choosing what happens next, and that keeps the performance from becoming merely cute. We felt unexpectedly protective of her when her escape from supervision brought her into the company of another person with plans for her. The reason is Hepburn’s open pleasure in having some freedom. She makes a small amount of independence seem worth all the trouble.

Gregory Peck is useful here precisely because he does not seem frantic to entertain us. His underplaying gives Hepburn room, while letting Joe’s professional calculation remain legible beneath the charm. The difficulty is that the film likes him so much that his deception rarely feels as shabby as it might; Peck’s reassuring manner does some work that the writing ought to have done. Eddie Albert, as Irving Radovich, brings a welcome extra comic presence without upsetting the balance between the leads.

Henri Alekan and Franz Planer’s photography gives Rome enough space to matter. The long takes and deep focus let us look beyond the stars and see why Ann might want to spend a day here. Filming on location pays off because she seems to have escaped into a place where life is already going on. Those wider compositions also suit the romance: we can watch the leads respond to each other without every reaction having to arrive in a separate close-up.

Robert Swink’s editing is particularly helpful to the physical comedy, allowing a piece of business to develop rather than hurrying on once the joke is clear. At 119 minutes, the film is leisurely, but it seldom drags. Georges Auric’s music is less restrained than the performances. Its sweetness occasionally presses a little hard, especially when Hepburn and Peck have already made the feeling plain.

The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo, Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton finds good comic complications in Joe’s need to conceal what he knows. A conversation that seems harmless to Ann requires rather more care from him. That is familiar romantic-comedy machinery, and some of the complications are easy to anticipate. The film meets the genre’s usual test by making us interested in what these particular people will say, even when we can guess the kind of scene approaching. Give it an evening without obligations of your own.

*Fi1m score 88, published 16 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews are unanimously positive, with praise centred on Audrey Hepburn’s performance as the sheltered princess and her chemistry with Gregory Peck. Critics repeatedly single out her naturalness, comic timing and ability to give the fairytale romance emotional weight. Peck’s understated playing provides a valued counterbalance, while William Wyler’s direction earns credit for keeping the comedy brisk without rushing the tender moments. The screenplay’s wit and the Rome location shooting are further points of agreement, giving the royal escape a lively, tangible setting.

The differences are chiefly in enthusiasm rather than judgement. The Telegraph finds the story slightly dated, though its individual moments remain affecting. The New Yorker is more reserved about the writing, describing a reliance on clichés, but finds Hepburn makes them work as comedy. Even these qualified responses retain considerable affection for the film; there is no substantial negative dissent among the reviews.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **Radio Times**, Tony Sloman (5/5): Praises it as a sublime film with Hepburn's Oscar-winning performance, charming love story, and impeccable direction by Wyler; a film to treasure. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ss98de/roman-holiday/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★★★★): The critic calls the film a rom-com colossus whose razor-sharp screenplay and Hepburn’s remarkable star-making turn remain its lasting legacy. It follows the jaded reporter attempting to sweet-talk a scoop from the undercover princess. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/roman-holiday-1953-review-audrey-hepburn-s-star-making-love-0ver-fame-tale-5gvnvmwf6)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Susan King (90/100, inferred): William Wyler’s enchanting 1953 Cinderella-esque comedy made Audrey Hepburn an overnight sensation with her Oscar-winning performance as a sheltered princess who escapes her guardians in Rome and finds adventure and a storybook romance. Part of the film’s charm is the parallel between the character’s story and Hepburn blossoming into stardom right before viewers' eyes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscar-archives-audrey-hepburn-roman-holiday-20131212-story.html)
- **Slant Magazine** (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a whimsical deconstruction of the Hepburn persona that succeeds thanks to the leads’ charisma and chemistry, the screwball scenario, and its loving depiction of Rome via long takes and deep-focus photography, while hailing the new 4K transfer as definitive. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review-william-wyler-roman-holiday-on-paramount-presents-blu-ray/)
- **The AV Club** (90/100, inferred): The critic describes Roman Holiday as one of romantic comedy’s most delectable treats, a sweet and simple reverse-Cinderella story elevated by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s chemistry, physical comedy beats, and a memorable final scene that showcases Hepburn’s star-making performance. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/nearly-70-years-on-roman-holiday-remains-one-of-romant-1848318473)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Milton Luban (90/100, inferred): The critic calls William Wyler’s first comedy in nearly 20 years a charming and often hilarious entertainment that should be a box-office hit, praising the sparkling screenplay, the lead performances by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, and the high-quality production filmed on location in Rome. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/roman-holiday-review-movie-1953-2-1234508/)
- **The New York Times**, Bosley Crowther (90/100, inferred): Wyler brought forth this gay romance about a princess who plays hookey from her royal duties and an American newspaper man in Rome. The interplay of innocence and intrigue was done with great deftness and charm, and the production had a rare authenticity from being shot on the genuine location; Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck were delightful. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/27/archives/picking-the-best-films-of-1953-gimmicks-featured-the-year-but.html)
- **Variety**, Variety Staff (90/100, inferred): This William Wyler romantic comedy-drama is the Graustarkian fable in modern dress plus the Cinderella theme in reverse; he times the chuckles with a never-flagging pace, puts heart into the laughs, endows the footage with some boff bits of business and points up some tender, poignant scenes in using the smart script and the cast to the utmost advantage. Gregory Peck figures importantly in making the picture zip along engrossingly while Eddie Albert makes a major comedy contribution. [Read](https://variety.com/1952/film/reviews/roman-holiday-2-1200417429/)
- **The Independent**, Geoffrey Macnab (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it one of the most influential romcoms ever made, praising its ingenious plotting, wit, style, emotional depth and location shooting in Rome that gives it neo-realist grit. He singles out Audrey Hepburn’s fresh, natural performance as the pampered princess who escapes protocol for a day of adventure with Gregory Peck’s reporter. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/culture/roman-holiday-audrey-hepburn-gregory-peck-romcom-b2226690.html)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (85/100, inferred): The critic delights in the timeless romantic comedy that introduced Audrey Hepburn as a star, noting that individual moments still catch the breath even if the story has dated slightly. It is impossible to imagine the film with anyone else in the central role. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10188178/Roman-Holiday-1953-review.html)
- **The Guardian** (80/100, inferred): The critic describes William Wyler’s 1953 film as a modern fairytale whose leads irradiate the movie with charm and innocence. Audrey Hepburn is perfectly cast as the runaway princess and Gregory Peck as the reporter who falls for her. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/18/roman-holiday-review)
- **Time Out**, Cath Clarke (4/5): The critic calls it a near-perfect romcom that launched Audrey Hepburn's stardom, praising her sparkling performance and the bittersweet fairytale ending. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/roman-holiday)
- **The New Yorker**, Philip Hamburger (70/100, inferred): The film is a lighthearted and lovely picture composed almost entirely of clichés that turn out to be fun, striking the critic as a delight thanks mostly to Audrey Hepburn who raises the enterprise to high comedy through her private magic. Rome itself has never looked more beautiful. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1953/08/29/holiday-9)
- **Collider**, William Fischer (B): The critic praises the enduring charm of the leads' performances in this 1953 classic, noting Hepburn's skillful navigation of her sheltered princess character's nuances in her Hollywood debut and Peck's convincing underplayed turn as the reporter with a heart of gold. The review highlights how the film's romance, Rome setting, and bittersweet ending hold up well in a re-release context. [Read](https://collider.com/roman-holiday-review-audrey-hepburn/)

## Details

- **Director:** William Wyler
- **Director:** William Wyler
- **Screenplay:** John Dighton, Ian McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo
- **Story:** Dalton Trumbo, Ian McLellan Hunter
- **Cinematography:** Henri Alekan, Franz Planer
- **Editor:** Robert Swink
- **Music:** Georges Auric
- **Costume design:** Edith Head
- **Producer:** William Wyler
- **Cast:** Gregory Peck as Joe Bradley; Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann; Eddie Albert as Irving Radovich; Hartley Power as Mr. Hennessy; Harcourt Williams as Ambassador; Margaret Rawlings as Countess Vereberg; Tullio Carminati as General Provno; Paolo Carlini as Mario Delani
- **Runtime:** 1h 59m
- **Certificate (MPA):** G
- **Release (the US):** 2 September 1953
- **Genres:** Romance, Comedy, Drama
- **Budget:** $2 million
- **Box office:** $12 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vm2FdHg7Io

## Where to watch in the US

Not streaming, renting or buying in the US at the last check.

Also available in: AT, CH, DE, FR, GB, IE, IT. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1954: Best Art Direction, Black and White (nominated); Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (nominated); Best Director (nominated); Best Film Editing (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated); Best Actress (won); Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (won); Best Story (won)

## If you liked this

- *It Happened One Night* (1934), Fi1m 88: A runaway heiress and a reporter make a less ceremonious travelling partnership. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/it-happened-one-night.md)
- *Brief Encounter* (1945), Fi1m 90: A restrained British romance for anyone who values what lovers leave unsaid. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md)
- *The Young Girls of Rochefort* (1967): French musical romance with missed connections, bright colour and plenty of grown-up longing.
- *Before Sunrise* (1995), Fi1m 89: Two strangers walk through Vienna and make conversation feel like a gamble. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md)
- *The Lunchbox* (2013): Misdelivered lunches allow a tentative romance to develop through letters.

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/roman-holiday