Roman Holiday is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter.
Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Story (Dalton Trumbo) and the Academy Award for Best Costume Design (Edith Head). The film was shot on location in Rome in black and white.
Crown Princess Ann (Hepburn) is on a tightly-scheduled tour of European capital cities for her unnamed nation. After an especially hard day in Rome, her doctor gives her an injection and advises: "Best thing I know is to do exactly what you wish for a while."
The princess secretly leaves the embassy to explore the city on her own and, as the drug takes effect, falls asleep atop a low wall, where Joe Bradley (Peck), an American reporter, finds her. Not recognizing the princess (hard to believe), he thinks she is an intoxicated young nobody and takes her to his apartment to sleep it off.
When Ann wakes up, she wants to take advantage of her temporary freedom to be an ordinary tourist in the famous eternal city. Joe finally recognizes the princess, but plays along with her in order to obtain an exclusive story he can sell for a lot of money.
Thus, Ann and Joe experience many adventures together visiting the many tourist sites in Rome. Being together for many hours, the two young people develop a romantic relationship.
Finally, late at night, Ann realizes her Roman Holiday has to end. Joe drives her to near her embassy's gate and they reluctantly say goodbye. Joe gives up the financial benefit of spending a day alone with the princess. They say goodbye again the following day at her press conference when she greets the many members of the press in attendance.
Princess Ann and Joe depart the press conference in opposite directions. As is typical in many Hollywood love stories, it is not a happy ending.
