Roman Holiday. An Oscar-worthy debut

Amalia

Bee

Thinking of summer in the city and wanting to be a little romantic, William Wyler and his Roman Holiday (1953) quickly come to mind. Up until then, Audrey Hepburn had appeared in small roles. She began to become known to American audiences because Colette wanted her in her play, Gigi. The fact remains that Princess Anne marked her debut as a leading lady. Alongside her was Gregory Peck, an American journalist working for a press agency in Rome. It was he who noticed the talent of one of the greatest divas in the history of cinema and insisted that her name appear as large as that of the male lead in the opening and closing credits. The film was a resounding success. Audrey, if that were possible, soared even higher: she won an Oscar for Best Actress (and it was only her debut). Credit also goes to two Italian screenwriters, Suso Cecchi d'Amico and Ennio Flaiano, whom Wyler singles out, not happy with the fact that Americans didn't understand Rome and the Italians.