While far from being one of the first romantic comedies (check out It Happened One Night from 1934 if you want a much earlier example of a great romantic comedy), Roman Holiday has an important role in cinema history as being one of the biggest precedents for what the modern rom-com looks like. The movie features film legends Gregory Peck and relative newcomer Audrey Hepburn in her first American film role. It’s so easy to watch this movie and see the countless influences it had on movies that followed.

In Roman Holiday, Hepburn plays a princess named Ann, while Peck plays a newsman named Joe. Ann is becoming increasingly tired of having to act proper all the time and stick to a predetermined schedule. So, one night, she sneaks off, and ends up meeting Joe. After spending some time together, Joe discovers that she’s the princess and realizes that he can sell a story about her if he learns some more about her. Ann is unaware of this, and just wants a day to do things that she wants to do instead of what she’s told to do. As the two spend the day together, a romance begins to blossom, and I’m sure you know where things go from there.

I think Roman Holiday is a great movie, but I don’t have a whole lot to say about it. It’s easy to see how influential the movie is, and for what it’s worth it still holds up pretty well in its own right. I think the movie is really elevated by its two stars, who have great on-screen chemistry. The movie does get a little long after a certain point, but it’s never really boring. It isn’t personally on my list of “best movies I’ve ever seen,” but I still think it’s well worth the watch. Check it out if you’re a fan of these kinds of movies.

4/5