Director William Wyler takes a time-out from the amour fou tales (such as Jezebel, Wuthering Heights) and big budget dramas (Mrs. Miniver) he often made for a light-hearted romantic soufflé poking fun at class conventions. Audrey Hepburn, in her first major role (which won her a Best Actress Oscar), is a modern-day princess feeling stifled by her social and political obligations. She absconds from her wealthy station to play hooky in the streets of Rome, accidentally running into handsome newspaperman Joe (Gregor Peck) who recognizes her and decides to play up the connection for a big story. However, he does not count on the two falling-in-love, and the carefree tale receives a beguilingly bittersweet resolution. Original story writer Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted at the time and a front was credited. His widow accepted a posthumous Oscar for Best Writing, Original Story when the Academy amended its records in 1993.
“This William Wyler romantic comedy-drama… is the Cinderella theme in reverse. He puts heart into the laughs…points up some tender, poignant scenes in using the smart script and the cast to the utmost advantage.” – Variety
“A modern fairy tale whose two leads have a charm and innocence that irradiate the whole movie – a kind of neo-fabulism… Audrey Hepburn was perfectly cast here… A lovely film.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian