Roman Holiday Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Roman Holiday" impressively revitalizes the classic film's visual quality through an extensive and meticulous 4K restoration and transfer. Paramount utilized the best existing sources, including a 35mm Dupe Negative and Fine Grain prints, to restore the film to its original splendor. Each frame underwent detailed clean-up, removing thousands of scratches and debris. The resultant 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer is sharp, clear, and vibrant, capturing the film's intended beauty. The grain structure provides a pleasant, film-like texture without overwhelming the viewer, while the black-and-white palette showcases deep blacks, stable whites, and numerous shades of grey with exceptional clarity. However, minor grain spikes and wavering occur in certain scenes.

The image maintains an authentic feel, with its 1.37:1 aspect ratio preserving the film’s original framing. Paramount's effort has resulted in rich blacks, splendid whites, and nuanced grayscale that enhance the depth and fine textures of costumes, interior decor, and Rome's iconic cityscapes. Superior shadow delineation prevents crush, and detailed close-ups highlight elements such as Audrey Hepburn's fresh-faced allure and Gregory Peck's rugged complexion. The black-and-white photography benefits from excellent contrast and clarity, providing a visually rich experience that significantly improves upon previous DVD presentations.

Despite the challenges posed by the deteriorated original elements, Paramount’s restoration work revitalizes "Roman Holiday," offering fans a pristine viewing experience. The movie’s natural black-and-white aesthetic is preserved with negligible artifacts or visible processing issues. With this high-definition Blu-ray presentation, Paramount ensures that "Roman Holiday" can be appreciated in a form that respects its cinematic heritage while offering modern audiences enhanced visual pleasure. Ensuring both a nostalgic touch and technical excellence, this release stands as a testament to the enduring charm of this cinematic gem.

The Dolby TrueHD 2.0 Mono track for "Roman Holiday" delivers an exquisitely detailed auditory experience despite its vintage nature. This lossless format ensures that the original elements are preserved with remarkable clarity, presenting clean and crisp vocals, balanced orchestration of Georges Auric’s light score, and intelligible dialogue. While devoid of surround sound or LFE, this mix stands out for its impeccable vocal reproduction and absence of any significant audio anomalies such as hisses, pops, or distortion. Notes linger in a front-center imaged area, capturing everything from the hum of Rome's cityscape to the subtle clatter of typewriters with an authenticity that exudes fidelity to the source.

Purists will appreciate the puritanical approach upheld in this remaster, ensuring an auditory experience that's both an homage to its original form and better suited for modern viewing environments. Scenes where city noises, police sirens, and other ambient sounds come into play are handled deftly within the confines of the mono mix's limited spatial range but do not compromise on clarity or intent. Despite being confined mostly to a central output, the film’s dynamic range makes specific sequences vibrant without overwhelming the listener.

In sum, “Roman Holiday’s” audio presentation on Blu-ray showcases a faithful remastering effort preserved through Dolby TrueHD. While not expansive in its channel separation or heavy on low-frequency effects, it remains highly effective with its crystal-clear dialogue and well-preserved vintage charm. The remastered soundtrack is virtually free of age-related artifacts and background noise, affirming an engaging and respectful auditory homage to this classic film.

The Blu-ray release of "Roman Holiday" offers a compelling array of extras, perfectly complementing the timeless film itself. Anchored by film historian Leonard Maltin's insightful featurette, this collection delves into various aspects of the film and its legacy. Highlights include Maltin's overview of director William Wyler's direction and the performances of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, an exploration of historic Roman locations featured in the film, and an in-depth look at Audrey Hepburn's career at Paramount. Notably, the disc also addresses Dalton Trumbo's controversial Hollywood career and provides heartwarming remembrances from those who knew Hepburn best. The inclusion of original theatrical trailers and extensive photo galleries ensures fans have a comprehensive behind-the-scenes experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday: Film historian Leonard Maltin discusses the film and its key contributors.
• Behind the Gates: Costumes: Tours the Paramount costume collection with an emphasis on Edith Head.
• Rome with a Princess: Examines Roman historical sites featured in the movie.
• Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years: A detailed look at Hepburn's career and personal life.
• Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist: Chronicles Trumbo's blacklisting and its impact.
• Paramount in the '50s: A retrospective on Paramount’s 1950s classics.
• Remembering Audrey: Personal reflections on Hepburn from her son and longtime companion.
• Theatrical Trailers: Includes original and re-release trailers.
• Four Photo Galleries: Covering Production, The Movie, Publicity, and The Premiere.

"Roman Holiday," directed by William Wyler, is a timeless romantic classic that exemplifies the Golden Age of Hollywood. Its production marked a significant departure from typical filmmaking conventions of the time, being one of the first major American motion pictures shot entirely on location in Rome. This decision imbues the film with a palpable authenticity, weaving the Eternal City's historic landmarks seamlessly into its narrative. The cinematography by Henri Alekan captures Rome's monumental beauty, creating an immersive visual experience that transports audiences directly to its charming streets and iconic sites. These settings play a crucial role, not merely as backdrops but as integral characters that enhance the film's enchanting atmosphere.

At its heart, "Roman Holiday" is defined by Audrey Hepburn’s Oscar-winning breakout performance. Her portrayal of Princess Ann—a young royal yearning to escape her regimented life—exudes a rare combination of innocence, vivacity, and depth. Hepburn's natural screen presence and magnetic charm make her character's transformation from a constrained princess to a free-spirited woman both believable and engaging. Opposite her, Gregory Peck delivers a balanced performance as Joe Bradley, a seasoned American reporter who initially sees Ann as a career opportunity before becoming captivated by her sincerity. Their chemistry is undeniably potent, lending authenticity to the film's central relationship and emotional stakes.

Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's contribution, though initially obscured by the blacklist era, is pivotal to the story’s success. Trumbo’s finely crafted script balances wit, sentimentality, and moral dilemmas, culminating in a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The film's end diverges from typical fairy tale conclusions, trading an overt happily-ever-after for subtle, bittersweet closure—an artistic choice that resonates and elevates the film’s complexity. "Roman Holiday" remains a quintessential film, distinguished by its impeccable direction, compelling performances, and enduring charm, making it an unparalleled example of classic romantic cinema.

"Roman Holiday" remains a beloved cinematic classic, and Paramount's Blu-ray release does it the justice it deserves. The film, adorned with iconic performances by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck and helmed by the masterful William Wyler, is a harmonious blend of romance, comedy, and visual splendor that still captivates audiences decades after its release. Paramount’s new Blu-ray of this Oscar-winning movie, featuring Hepburn’s debut in American cinema, showcases wisely restored video and audio quality that enhances the timeless charm of this endearing narrative. The video transfer, derived from a meticulous 2015 4K restoration, bestows the film with unprecedented clarity and richness that makes the Roman vistas leap from the screen. Paired with a Dolby TrueHD 2.0 Mono soundtrack in various languages including English, French, German, and more, this Blu-ray ensures an immersive and authentic audio experience.

The disc also brings a bounty of supplementary features that broaden appreciation for this classic. From behind-the-scenes features to retrospectives on Hepburn's illustrious career and Roman Holiday's cinematic legacy, this Blu-ray set satisfies both casual viewers and avid cinema enthusiasts alike. The charming story of a princess discovering the simple joys of life and love in Rome is beautifully rendered in this high-definition release, marking it as a must-own for any film collection.

My only complaint about this set is purely me grumbling that it took THIS LONG for Paramount to bring out one of their biggest hits, but you have to admit that they did it right. No DNR’d master from ages ago, a new 4K master (A 4K UHD release for this would have put me over the edge into ecstasy, but this is one excellent Blu-ray) and impeccable video and audio. Pretty much means you know what I’m going to say in terms of recommending it or not. Yeah, just go buy it. The flick is classic for a reason and Paramount really did an amazing job with this package. Must own in my opinion.