A classic for a reason, Roman Holiday truly reveals why Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck were regarded as such amazing actors. A rebellious princess making her tours, Anne (Hepburn) gets fed up with her life one day and goes out on the town. Found drunk and delirious by journalist Joe Bradley (Peck), their romance is one that blooms slowly and through new experiences they show each other.

Though it admittedly feels like a cliche at first, Roman Holiday evidently serves as the basis for a lot of popular romantic comedies. The contrast between a royal life and the life of a struggling journalist is played up very well, showing the differences in each side and not disregarding flaws of either side. This movie is almost an older La La Land without the singing, representing a complex relationship paired with comedy and many iconic moments. Modern romantic comedies pale in comparison for the most part, as Roman Holiday has a depth and level of acting that most of them do not possess.

Especially for her debut role, Hepburn held her own throughout the whole film and made her mark. She throws herself into her performance, playing the bratty princess and then delivering her character arc beautifully. Peck is a good balance to her large performance, not getting over-shadowed but instead showing his complexity through his silence and actions.

The music blends in smoothly as well, complementing the story but not adding too much. The story may not be the most complicated one, but Hepburn and Peck’s performances alone allow the movie to be hugely iconic and exciting. The only thing to be desired is better coloring as it is in black and white, but the monochrome has its own charm in bringing the story back to the 50s.

Overall, the film is gorgeous and bittersweet, delivering a romantic comedy that has nuance many do not have. Lovers of older movies and romantic comedies will love this movie, and can then transition to Hepburn’s other iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sabrina.