Meet Me in Rome!
Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in William Wyler's Roman Holiday
Hepburn plays a princess of a small nation playing hooky from her duties, and Peck is a wiley reporter just trying to get a story.
The "Mouth of Truth" located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy. This is the location of one of the best scenes in the movie.
Legend has it that if someone given to lying sticks his hand in the Mouth, it will bite it off. Both Joe and Anna have been telling a pack of lies about themselves, so neither is particularly eager to test the legend. But, unbeknownst to Hepburn, Peck had planned ahead to act like his hand had really been bitten off. When they shot the scene, and he screamed and then pulled out his arm with his hand up his sleeve, Hepburn's reaction of shock was real. It makes an unforgetable scene.
Hepburn and Peck playing cards between takes
Hepburn and Peck on a runaway skooter
Of course they end up in each other's arms
ROMAN HOLIDAY
Best Romance, 1953 - 5-Star Masterpiece
Perhaps the Most Perfect Romantic-Comedy Ever Made
That's not just my opinion - it seems to be universal. It was directed by one of the all time greats, William Wyler, who is known for such mega classics as Ben-Hur (1959), for which he won the Oscar for Best Director; Friendly Persuasion (1956), Detective Story (1951), The Big Country, The Heiress (1949); The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946), for which he was named Best Director; Mrs. Miniver (1942), for which he again won Best Director; The Little Foxes (1941), The Letter (1940), Wuthering Heights (1939) and Dodsworth (1936).
Wyler has more Oscar nominations than any other director (12), and only John Ford has more wins (4). Even without those nominations and wins, Wyler would have to be considered one of the top three directors of all time, along with John Ford and Frank Capra, for the sheer quality and quantity of his work. He is considered to be second only to Ford as a "master craftsmen of cinema." And even though Roman Holiday is a "little" film, as far as budget and scope, it has a huge heart and was probably a lot more fun to make than many of his larger productions. It's definitely more fun to watch.