MovieChat Forums > Roman Holiday (1953) Discussion > The 1950's male fantasy

The 1950's male fantasy

posted 9 years ago by jlent
5 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong, this is my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie and I love it to pieces.

But her lines near the end. "Sorry I couldn't cook us some dinner"..."I'm a good cook, I could earn my living at it...I can sew, too, and clean a house and iron. I learned to do all those things. I just haven't had the chance to do it with anyone."

So now we understand the secret desire of the not-so-average princess is to settle down as an American housewife, strap on her apron, get the bird out of the oven, set the table, then later haul out the vacuum cleaner to clean up. I believe it's something all princesses do.

Then again, staff.

[–] hka-3 9 years ago

This film appears to be patterned after Princess O'Rourke (1943), except if I recall correctly that princess didn't know how to do hardly any household chores. With Princess Ann it seemed in-character for her to learn how to do household chores since there was a side of her that wanted to know what it was like to live an ordinary life for a change. Also, getting an opportunity to cook for someone special (or do other things around the house) is something both men and women enjoy.

Mag, Darling, you're being a bore.

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

Oh, for heaven's sake, you're judging a sixty-three year old romantic fantasy from the jaded perspective of 2016? If you love this movie to bits, then I'd hate to read your thoughts on Bloodline.

[–] jlent 9 years ago

Saw Bloodline once. That was enough.
Do you think princesses (or any royalty, for that matter) 200 years ago, 63 years ago or today in any kind of power make or made a habit of washing dishes and doing laundry? I'm just noting the absurdity of even mentioning it, especially in a romantic fantasy. Cinderella did the dishes, Prince Charming didn't but didn't feel compelled to tell her he did. That's why Roman Holiday is a male fantasy. But you can also be sure during the "happily ever after" portion of Cinderella, Cinderella never swept floors again. We understand it inherently.

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

I have no clue to the private fantasies of princesses throughout the ages, and would be loathe to make blanket statements about them.

(I'm baffled by your claim of love for this film.)

[–] jlent 9 years ago

(I'm baffled by your claim of love for this film.)

But why? It's possible to hold more than one thought in one's head at the same time. I've seen the film dozens of times. I think the final princess press conference is one of the great scenes in film.