Review of Roman Holiday (1953) by Wayne K — 09 Mar 2018
Amongst the most profound and beloved cinematic debuts of all time, Audrey Hepburn brings her inimitable charm and impossible beauty to Roman Holiday, a landmark in romantic comedies. It's a fun little flick, often looking like a travelogue of Rome, but they could hardly have picked a more perfect city to film in.
The scenery and architecture are gorgeous, and they take advantage of all the areas they film in. The Vespa ride is a classic scene, as is the Liar's Mouth statue scene. Gregory Peck takes his first proper crack at comedy, and while he's often completely outmatched by his co-star, he still turns in a likable performance.
The truth is, while it has its faults, Hepburn is the real reason we remember this film. She illuminates every shot with her eyes and lights up every moment with her smile. She's a joy to watch and makes the role completely her own.
Hard to believe she almost received considerably lower billing. Even if Rom-Coms aren't your thing, it's great to go back and see a film like this that did it all so well.
This review of Roman Holiday (1953) was written by Wayne K on 09 Mar 2018.
Roman Holiday has generally received very positive reviews.
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