Audrey Hepburn is one of the most recognizable actresses from the Golden Era of Hollywood. Even people who aren’t classic movie fans are sure to recognize pictures of her in her timelessly stylish outfits. But Hepburn was more than a pretty face and fashion model. She was an excellent actress, and many of her movies are masterpieces that deserve to be recognized for their artistic quality and inspiring values.
Today’s moment of movie wisdom is from “Roman Holiday” (1953). An important scene takes place 100 minutes into this 118-minute film. In this scene, a young princess (Hepburn) makes her overbearing royal aids respect her as a young monarch.
Princess Ann (Hepburn) of an unnamed European country is on a goodwill tour. While visiting Rome, she breaks down from the strain of fulfilling her never-ending royal duties. She cries hysterically as a doctor administers a sedative and soon blacks out. When she awakes Ann is alone. She puts on her simplest outfit and sneaks out of the embassy to explore. As the sedative takes hold, she falls asleep on a low wall of the city. American reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) finds her there. She’s too drowsy to tell him where she lives, so he reluctantly takes her to his apartment.
Joe learns that the princess he was supposed to interview at a press conference has been taken ill. When he discovers how much she looks like the mysterious damsel he rescued the previous night, he realizes he has a huge scoop. He calls his photographer friend, Irving (Eddie Albert), to capture photos of his new friend.
The Scene
Ann and Joe spend a wonderful day in Rome together, but then Ann returns to the embassy. In her bedroom, she faces the ambassador (Harcourt Williams), General Provno (Tullio Carminati), and Countess Vereberg (Margaret Rawlings), her lady-in-waiting who acts like her nursemaid. As the ambassador had only seen Ann as she blacked out, he thought Ann was just regaining consciousness. He finds it hard to believe she had been unconscious for 24 hours, but she is not forthcoming. Trying very little to hide his frustration, the ambassador exclaims, “Your Royal Highness, 24 hours! They can’t all be black.” Ann calmly responds, “They are not.” “What explanation am I to offer Their Majesties?” the ambassador demands. Ann does not explain her adventure. Regally, she replies, “I was indisposed. I am better.”Politely insistent, the ambassador continues, “Ma’am, you must appreciate that I have my duty to perform, just as your royal highness has her duty.” Almost cutting him off, Ann says, “Your Excellency, I trust you will not find it necessary to use that word again. Were I not completely aware of my duty to my family and to my country, I would not have come back tonight ... or indeed ever again.” Stunned by her declaration and her newfound regal posture, the three aides withdraw as bidden.
This is the moment that Ann takes her position as a sovereign human being as well as a royal. All her life, she has been told what to do, where to go, and with whom to associate. Not only is every minute of her life scheduled with banquets, ribbon cutting ceremonies, parades, and festivals, but she can’t even decide how to respond in these settings.
When Countess Vereberg reads her the following day’s schedule, the countess tells her which honors and gifts Ann is to accept. The doctor who administered the sedative advises her to spend some time doing just what she wants to do. That, perhaps combined with the sedative, gives Ann the courage to run away and have some fun.
When Ann returns from her adventure, she isn’t the same person who was cowed from years of being treated like a child. After being on her own, even for just one day, she knows how to take control of her own life. Ann also understands her duty, and she intends to fulfill it.
Duty and Responsibility
When Ann leaves the embassy, she doesn’t know where she is going or what she is going to do. That’s the beautiful thing about the whole adventure. She just knows that she has to get away. She is overwhelmed with the possibilities as she explores Rome.One of those unexpected possibilities is spending time with a man. She confesses that she’s never never done this. Falling in love with the American changes Ann’s whole perspective. She could probably run away to America, marry Joe, change her name, and start a whole new life for herself. She might never be found. Ann thinks she might just get away with it.
However, Ann knows that isn’t the right thing to do. Her parents and her whole country would grieve for her if she just disappeared without a word.
Entertainment today so often encourages us to “follow your heart,” “live your truth,” and “be you.” “Roman Holiday” reminds us that we can’t always do just what we want. Ann chose to be an active participant in her own life, and accept the responsibility asked of her. It’s often more important and ultimately more fulfilling to serve others than just follow our own whims. Ann loves Joe and her newfound freedom, but she always knew that her escapade could be nothing more than a Roman holiday.
