Roman Holiday | 1953
- Locations |
- Italy
- DIRECTOR |
- William Wyler
American newspaperman Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) romances Euro-royalty, Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) around the touristy sights of Rome in this classic 60s romance which launched Hepburn’s career (and won her an Oscar).
It’s at the the Spanish Steps that Bradley encourages the princess to cut loose a little and try a gelato.
Bradley’s apartment is on a quiet artists’ enclave, via Margutta 51. Not a bad address. Federico Fellini lived, with his wife Giulietta Masina, at number 110.
Filming also took place in the 19th century Palazzo Brancaccio, Viale del Monte Oppio 7, which is now a conference centre, between the Colosseum and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The ending, with the Princess choosing duty over love in front of the assembled press, was filmed in the opulent Sala Grande Galleria of one of Rome’s largest palaces, Palazzo Colonna, Piazza Santa Apostoli 66. Open only on Saturdays, the entrance is on Via della Pilotta 17.
One of the film’s most unforgettable locations must be the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita), the carved stone face which supposedly bites the hands off liars. This is where Bradley teases the Princess by pulling out his, apparently, handless arm, The mysterious face seems to have been nothing more than an ancient drain cover. It can be found in the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Piazza Bocca della Verita.
• Many thanks to Nils Reucker for help with this section.
