The Bottom Line
I find "Roman Holiday" a bit on the wispy side, but I love its charismatic stars, elegant direction, and enchanting locations.
Pros
- Compelling, bittersweet, entertaining story
- Charismatic stars, particularly Audrey Hepburn
- Great location shooting in Rome
Cons
- Old-fashioned and lightweight
- Movie is in black-and-white (could be a pro)
- DVD provides no commentary track
Description
- DVD containing classic American film "Roman Holiday" (1953), directed by William Wyler
- Movie is a romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Eddie Albert
- DVD contains a few worthwhile special features
- The overall picture quality on the DVD is excellent, although a few frames seem to be missing
- Overall the sound quality is good, but some of the musical score seems to have soured due to age
Guide Review - "Roman Holiday" Special Collector's Edition DVD
I really like the charm and elegance of "Roman Holiday." The story is about Princess Ann (Hepburn), heir to the throne of an unnamed country. While visiting Rome, Ann finds her duties oppressive and slips away to have some incognito fun. The naïve young woman meets Joe Bradley (Peck), a newspaperman who shows her around the Eternal City so he can make big bucks by selling an article. I'm always enchanted by the scene where Ann dances on a barge, and I think the kiss Ann and Joe share after they swim across the river is wonderfully romantic. But even as Ann and Joe realize they’ve fallen in love, they know they must make some important decisions. The movie's satisfying ending is bittersweet and always leaves me close to tears.
