Roman Holiday (1953)

Praises it as a sublime film with Hepburn's Oscar-winning performance, charming love story, and impeccable direction by Wyler; a film to treasure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The critic calls it a near-perfect romcom that launched Audrey Hepburn's stardom, praising her sparkling performance and the bittersweet fairytale ending.

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.

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.