Aug. 15, 2002 - 2:24 am

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Roman Holiday (1953)

ok, so i kept thinking about the newest AFI list "100 Years...100 Passions" and decided that i really should take a look at this film. plus, when was the last time i really watched a good romance film? who knows. and i was perfectly happy with what i got out of this film. this one ranks in at number 4 on the list. following only Casablanca (1942), Gone With The Wind (1939), and West Side Story (1961). also number 205 on the IMDb's top 250 list today.

the film's about a princess who visits Rome while on a tour of Europe and decides to run away from her life for a couple of hours. unfortunately her physician gave her a sedative before she ran off from the palace and she ends up spending the night with the first guy who offers her any help. well, he actually makes her sleep on the sofa. it turns out he's a reporter and he figures out who she is. he comes up with a plan to get the scoop of the decade by taking her out for a day on the town and gets a lot more than he bargained for. and in the end they fall in love of course.

this film made me think a lot of Notting Hill (1999). the plot line is basically the same. the ending to Roman Holiday is much better though. i really love Notting Hill except for the end. looks like they did it better back in the 50s. maybe they made Notting Hill for people who were upset by the ending to Roman Holiday. but obviously i prefer the classic. i think it's more true to life.

i have to admit, i haven't ever really been that amazed by Audrey Hepburn. i haven't liked her in either of the films i've seen her in previously (or those films themselves for that matter). she was really awesome in this one though. this was her first major film, and she won an Oscar for it. this is the only one she ever won the award with. she was nominated quite a few other times though later on. one thing that really helped me to enjoy the film was something very simple. i loved her short hair in this film. it's beautiful. granted, she acted flawlessly, but i love you if you are a beautiful woman with short hair.

it was also interesting to see Gregory Peck in a romantic comedy like this. i've only ever seen him in really serious roles previously like Gentleman's Agreement (1947). hmmm...i think i might have to watch some more of these movies on the list. maybe Love Story (1970).

oh, and yes in case you're wondering, White (1994) will be on the list of films viewed this weekend. and in other news, i have received more assurances that entry #2 is indeed being shot and definitely correct. and there is a soft cheer heard from Mark's room.