| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Gregory Peck | ... | ||
| Audrey Hepburn | ... | ||
| Eddie Albert | ... | ||
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Hartley Power | ... | |
| Harcourt Williams | ... |
Ambassador
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| Margaret Rawlings | ... | ||
| Tullio Carminati | ... | ||
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Paolo Carlini | ... | |
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Claudio Ermelli | ... |
Giovanni
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Paola Borboni | ... |
Charwoman
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Alfredo Rizzo | ... | |
| Laura Solari | ... |
Hennessy's Secretary
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Gorella Gori | ... |
Shoe Seller
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Joe Bradley is a reporter for the American News Service in Rome, a job he doesn't much like as he would rather work for what he considers a real news agency back in the States. He is on the verge of getting fired when he, sleeping in and getting caught in a lie by his boss Hennessy, misses an interview with HRH Princess Ann, who is on a goodwill tour of Europe, Rome only her latest stop. However, he thinks he may have stumbled upon a huge scoop. Princess Ann has officially called off all her Rome engagements due to illness. In reality, he recognizes the photograph of her as being the young well but simply dressed drunk woman he rescued off the street last night (as he didn't want to turn her into the police for being a vagrant), and who is still in his small studio apartment sleeping off her hangover. What Joe doesn't know is that she is really sleeping off the effects of a sedative given to her by her doctor to calm her down after an anxiety attack, that anxiety because she hates her... Written by Huggo
Audrey Hepburn doesn't have a vulgar bone in her body: she breezes through this comedic romp with the spirit of a saint on holiday. When a princess escapes the castle while touring Italy, a down-on-his-luck American reporter chances to meet her and smells a good story. A joyful fairy tale, but with the heartbreak of reality at the finale, and what sweet sadness there is in those final shots! Hepburn won an Oscar for Best Actress, and deserved it. Gregory Peck is almost playful in his scenes with her, and Eddie Albert is a perfect buddy-match. Director William Wyler sets up the story very gingerly, but he cuts loose as well, and the whole picture plays like a delectable dessert. ***1/2 from ****