MovieChat Forums > Roman Holiday (1953) Discussion > Is Roman Holiday best romantic film of a...

Is Roman Holiday best romantic film of all time?

posted 12 years ago by Mortimer605
9 replies | jump to latest

Well, for me definitely - yes ! Not only because of the chemistry between Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, beautiful locations and perfect story. The fact that Roman Holiday was filmed in 1953 gives him an aura of innocence. And most importantly, ending is realistic and more mature than in most other romantic comedies, especially today's. Yes girls, romantic story doesn't must to have happy ending to be a great love story ( I mean , Hugh Grant plays a ordinary guy and Julia Roberts Hollywood actress and yet at the end they were together and she expected his child ?! Yeah, sure ! ).
In contrast, in Roman Holiday we have press conference at the picture's conclusion that serve as TRUE LOVE SCENE. Here, the couple's interactions, i.e. their manner of speaking and body language are predicated by the formalities of the forum they find themselves in. Conversely, they are also free of the facades of yesterday, meeting for the first time as what they actually are - as princess and journalist. Speaking in a language he knows she will understand, Joe assures Ann that she will not be let down by her faith in the world, thus communicating that he will not turn their excursion together into a front page exclusive. In response, Princess Ann oversteps the bounds of the mass interview and, in a rather out of character gesture, shakes the hand of her journalist friend. She gave him a last poignant look at the end. With this gentle adieu, a film marked by a grand air of whimsy ends on a very melancholy note. Their innocent love story lasted just one day but for them this day will last forever.

[–] teammikey 12 years ago

I think that "Roman Holiday" and "Affair to Remember" are in the top two-all time
Agree?

[–] snsurone 12 years ago

I don't think that ANY movie can be termed "the most (whatever)".
As for romance, I believe that Disney's POCAHONTAS and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST are just as romantic as ROMAN HOLIDAY.

[–] ZTJ_RagingBull 11 years ago

It Happened One Night is probably my favourite romance film of all time.

[–] dreamcandyy 11 years ago

I'd say sure, why not? I mean, this film is as real as "romance in life" gets.

You've got a princess whom ventures off into the "real world", against her entourages will, and meets a guy, "falls in love" with the guy whilst doing the things she always wanted to do. That's about as good as it gets.

What's interesting is how Joe has to see Ann leave not once, but twice, adding the dramatic effect.

Although the vibe feels "realistic", I still ask myself "Why can't they somehow manage to be together, if there's any hope for them, why not try?"

And so, the film leaves you in wondering if their love for each other was a temporary thing, or if their
"love will find each other again"...

[–] CountJohn 11 years ago

I'd say it's probably the best Romantic Comedy ever. If you just say "romantic film" you'd have to include stuff like Gone With the Wind.

[–] Mortimer605 11 years ago

You're partially right. "Best romantic comedy ever" sounds more appropriate but only at first sight. In my opinion, the ending of the "Roman Holiday" puts this movie above Romantic Comedy genre.

"The trick, William Potter,is not minding that it hurts."

[–] CountJohn 11 years ago

I don't really see how a movie can be "above" a certain genre. The Godfather is still a gangster movie even if it's a million times better than all the cheesy gangster B-films that got made in the 30's. I could understand if you said that the distinction between a romantic drama and romantic comedy was that the comedy has a traditional happy ending while the drama ends ambiguously or in tragedy, but to me a romantic comedy is just a romance film that also relies heavily on comic situations, which Roman Holiday certainly does (the first half of the movie is pretty much a comedy of manners/errors, and there's a healthy dose of old fashioned slapstick too). And I wouldn't call Roman Holiday's ending "sad" the way so many other people do She's a princess with near infinite resourses at her disposal, she almost certainly wrote to him or called him on the phone. A romantic relationship would've been difficult, but there's no way to say what would've happened either way. If we're putting all romance films together, I'd probably put ut at number three behind Gone With the Wind and The Apartment. So yeah, it's pretty much the cream of the crop in terms of screen romances. The screenplay is perfect, Peck is really, really good, and Audrey Hepburn is Audrey Hepburn.

[–] emvan 10 years ago

I think you need to distinguish between classic romantic comedies and later films that stand on their proverbial giant shoulders. I don't think any of the classic films of the genre, as perfect as they are, are as deep or moving as Manhattan or Annie Hall, or, to give an example of really messing with the template, Lars and the Real Girl. I'd continue that list with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the Before Sunrise / Sunset / Midnight trilogy, and Secretary. But all of those films exploit the conventions that the classics established.

I've only seen the classics once each, so this would be a very provisional ranking, but I might go

The Apartment
Trouble in Paradise
Roman Holiday
The Philadelphia Story
The Palm Beach Story

But the first four at least are really close.

Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]