1. Roman Holiday (1953)
The first, the best.
Roman Holiday remains a staple of romantic comedies and dramas across the decades and is fortunate to have lost none of its relevance, humour or delight as the story of sweet but suffocated Princess Ann, who escapes from her relentless press schedule for a day of adventure on the streets of Rome. In the breakout role that won her an Oscar, Audrey Hepburn truly shines here - from her sulky, frustrated introduction to her final moments of serene acceptance, she dominates the screen here and easily commands the same kind of screen presence that would propel her into the highest of Hollywood legends. Her screen partner Gregory Peck, a man whose equal parts of on-screen skill and presence and off-screen general amazingness, is a perfect fit for the role as desperate news reporter Joe who needs the scoop of a lifetime and finds himself the companion and protector of the naive Princess Ann. Peck famously demanded Hepburn's name next to his on the poster, sharing credit, and it speaks to their delightful on-screen chemistry and respect. The film isn't all light-hearted insouciant froth however - the misery and boredom that Ann feels is palpable, a very real reminder to Ann that her duty as a royal means she may never feel freedom like this again. The ending itself is very bittersweet as Princess Ann is surreptiously given the photos of her adventurous day out and she and Joe share a smile, ending things on a sad but wistful note of all that could have been. The film, aside from being an iconic movie, truly embodies the kind of selfless love that we see in movies such as the immortal
Brief Encounter - two people, truly in love, who give their desires up to keep their families together. In
Roman Holiday, Hepburn has a country to support, not just a husband and a family - but while there's imagination in our hearts, some of us still think they might have finally gotten their happy ending denied to them. There's always hope to the wistful sadness. That's what makes Roman Holiday a masterpiece. Those are my top ten Audrey Hepburn movies - if you're a fan and fancy telling us your personal favourite, let us know.