--- title: "Roman Holiday: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/roman-holiday/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/roman-holiday" critics_score: 87 critics_reviews: 14 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): what the critics said Critics' score 87 from 14 reviews: 14 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## Radio Times — Tony Sloman Rating 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ss98de/roman-holiday/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 3 February 2023. 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 the review](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 Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2013. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscar-archives-audrey-hepburn-roman-holiday-20131212-story.html) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2020. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review-william-wyler-roman-holiday-on-paramount-presents-blu-ray/) ## The AV Club Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2022. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/nearly-70-years-on-roman-holiday-remains-one-of-romant-1848318473) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Milton Luban Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 2019. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/roman-holiday-review-movie-1953-2-1234508/) ## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 1953. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/27/archives/picking-the-best-films-of-1953-gimmicks-featured-the-year-but.html) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1953. 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 the review](https://variety.com/1952/film/reviews/roman-holiday-2-1200417429/) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2022. 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 the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/culture/roman-holiday-audrey-hepburn-gregory-peck-romcom-b2226690.html) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2013. 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 the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10188178/Roman-Holiday-1953-review.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2013. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/18/roman-holiday-review) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 4/5. 16 July 2013. The critic calls it a near-perfect romcom that launched Audrey Hepburn's stardom, praising her sparkling performance and the bittersweet fairytale ending. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/roman-holiday) ## The New Yorker — Philip Hamburger Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 August 1953. 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 the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1953/08/29/holiday-9) ## Collider — William Fischer Rating B. 20 January 2023. 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 the review](https://collider.com/roman-holiday-review-audrey-hepburn/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/roman-holiday.md