Roman Holiday

William Wyler insisted on shooting in Rome rather than on a Hollywood lot. Paramount agreed only if he used blocked funds, money earned in Italy and spendable only there, and when that ran short he gave up colour for black and white. The Italian tourism ministry had refused permission at first, arguing the film would degrade Italians. Cary Grant was offered the reporter and declined, believing he was too old opposite the princess; he played against Audrey Hepburn 10 years later in Charade. Gregory Peck’s contract gave him sole billing, and shortly after shooting began he asked that Hepburn’s name be raised above the title beside his own. The film took 10 nominations at the 26th Academy Awards and won 3: Hepburn as actress, Edith Head for black and white costume design, and Dalton Trumbo in the category then called writing, motion picture story. Trumbo was blacklisted, so on the night the award stood in Ian McLellan Hunter’s name; his widow Cleo collected the statuette in 1993 and his screenplay credit was restored in 2011. Hepburn also won best British actress at the 7th BAFTAs. A good fit if it matters that the two of them meet on real Roman streets. Not for viewers who expect the closing scene to put them together.