Roman Holiday

 

Reporter 2: Which of the cities visited did Your Highness enjoy the most?E

Princess Ann: Each, in its own way, was unforgettable. It would be difficult to — Rome! By all means, Rome.

It’s hard to disagree with Princess Ann. Rome is such a captivating and unique city. Next to Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, it plays an equal part in this Oscar-winning picture. The iconic places of the Eternal City are witnesses of memorable scenes of “Roman Holiday”. Crazy Vespa ride around the Coliseum, or maybe a night-time stroll near the ruins of the Roman Forum – it is nothing but a recipe for the blockbuster and the dream of many tourists coming to Italia.

A star is born

1953 is a successful year for Audrey: starring on Broadway in “Gigi” and the big break in “Roman Holiday”. The movie will establish her world-wide reputation, create a timeless emploi, and bring her the Academy Award. From now on, Hepburn will be seen in many American productions with Europe as a catchy location, as in, for example, the Funny Face – a musical from 1957, more about it here.

Why did she have her hair cut?

The significance of this event is multidimensional. First of all, as far as the plot is concerned, it’s a logical move – Anna does not want to be recognised and chased by some intrusive paparazzo. However, was it possible to do without the scissors in the script? Yes, and perhaps for the sake of the story, it would not matter that much; if it wasn’t for the other reason: viewers, and more specifically women. The creators realised that by casting a young and  slender beauty as Hebpurn in the role of a princess, it would be impossible the gain that “everywoman” quality, something that ladies could hold on to. The writers deliberately put a memorable scene at the hairdresser’s near the Trevi Fountain, so that Anna would become more down-to-earth, and the female part of the audience could even identify with her. It was also a successful attempt to avoid the reluctance of wives. Normally jealous of the lustful looks of their husbands while watching Lana Turner or Marylin Monroe, this time they could feel pretty calm. Anna is charming but innocent; vivid, but not seductive. She awakes the harmless kindness in men and gets the sincere favour of women – the creators could’t know their audience better.

Tourists, take notes

Audrey Hepburn is unquestionably a style icon, also on the big screen. Characters played by her have inspired women for decades. In this case is no different. The outfit which she wears while roaming the streets of Rome is an essential example of tourist fashion! Light skirt, cotton blouse and some classic or extravagant accessories (here a belt or silk scarf). Don’t forget one very important and thoughtful detail – comfortable yet still stylish flats! Anna  proves that we really don’t have to sightsee all these beautiful places wearing a stretched T-shirt, washed-down shorts and flip-flops . Especially if we want to take lots of pictures and framed them later on.

There is no happy end

People love happy endings, but they remember better the sad ones. Although “Roman Holiday”, this beautifully constructed story, has all the basics to lead charming Anna and the handsome reporter to “happily ever after”, it ends simply with warm yet intensive glances. There will be only memories, and an envelope full of photos, a black and white collection of evidence, that the day really happened. The sense of grief, and nostalgia arouses as Joe Bradley leaves the Palazzo Colonne alone. The fairytale could never happen, but the movie did. “Roman Holiday” is a timeless masterpiece which remind us that “what the world  needs is a return to sweetness and decency.”