Despite the glamorous stars of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn's star making role, this film feels like every Hallmark movie ever. In fact, one Hallmark film did involve a fake remake of this very film.
Sure, Hepburn does her regal best as Princess Ann, sick of the grueling schedule, wishing to enjoy Rome as a normal person and Peck is great as the American journalist, Joe Bradley, deep in debt, stumbles upon a drugged and sleepy Princess Ann who manages to wander out of her palace where she's staying, talk about some crappy security, but doesn't even recognize her at first. I mean, is he living under a rock? I digress, once he learns her true identity, he basically stalks her so he can attempt to get an exclusive story, for the money, of course, what else?
Of course, the two fall in love but in the end, Joe doesn't ask her to stay and she doesn't beg him to save her from a lifelong commitment, because, in the end, duty calls for both of them so they reluctantly go their separate ways.
Sure, the performances are great and the chemistry is decent as well as the brilliant atmosphere of actually filming in Rome but I found the screenplay ridiculous and unrealistic as how were they supposed to do everything she wanted to do in a mere afternoon. It's a shame as these two stars deserved a film that aged better as this just seems hokey. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Joe Bradley is a stalker, period, end of discussion.
-I guess Princess Ann folds up the sleeves to her long-sleeved shirt as she appears in short-sleeves the majority of the time. Little inconsistencies like that bother me.
-Princess Ann would have been recognized more than she was as her picture appeared in all the papers.
-Eddie Albert earned an Oscar nomination for his role as the photographer who, like Joe, has a change of heart.
-I feel Audrey Hepburn was far better in 1959's The Nun's Story, that film should have won her her Oscar.
-Princess Ann is upset when Joe's apartment doesn't have a kitchen as she heavily implies that she would make the perfect housewife, such a typical 1950s answer and plea.
-She does at least grow a backbone by the end of the film, refusing her nightly milk and crackers, which is just disgusting.
No comments:
Post a Comment