DREAM STREAM Enjoy two perfectly paired films, mood food & a classic film frame-of-mind
THE FILMS: Roman Holiday (1953) starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn; Directed by WilliamWyler; Story by Dalton Trumbo (prior to 1993, credited to Ian McClellan Hunter) written by Dalton Trumbo (prior to 2011, credited only to Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton); and Trumbo (2007) documentary, some of the various actors featured: Paul Giamatti, Josh Lucas, Nathan Lane; Directed by Peter Askin; Written by Christopher Trumbo.
THE CONNECTION: One is a black-and-white, classic, romantic comedy, set in post-war Italy; the other a documentary about the black-listed Hollywood screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, who wrote it, yet both, surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, tell the tale of true love, secrets and sacrifice.
Roman Holiday stars Gregory Peck and, in her first American film, Audrey Hepburn, who plays Princess Anne. Uncomfortable in her official role and chafing against its demands, the young Princess runs away and meets Joe Bradley (Peck), a journalist. But he doesn’t tell her his real job and she doesn’t tell him her real name. Though Joe quickly figures it out, he maintains the deception as the Princess experiences life as a commoner. Joe’s in pursuit of an exclusive scoop as he records her shopping, sightseeing and dancing. She even gets her hair cut! But, beneath the secrets and the lies, in the 24-hours spent together, Princess Anne and journalist Joe fall in love.
In Trumbo, various actors and actresses read Dalton Trumbo’s letters written over the decades to family, friends and enemies, alike. The letters reveal a man of absolute convictions that you can either love him or hate him for. But, that he was a witty, self-aware, dedicated family man, is undeniable. A big secret gets revealed in this documentary: Dalton Trumbo was a hopeless romantic, completely and utterly devoted to his wife, Cleo.
Trumbo, one of The Hollywood Ten, was convicted in 1947 for contempt of Congress following his appearance before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee ( HUAC). After his case failed in its appeals process, Trumbo wrote Roman Holiday. Think about that. With a jail sentence looming, friends and writing assignments disappearing quicker than the spines of the Hollywood moguls, his name decried in newspapers, Dalton Trumbo sat down and wrote a romantic comedy for the ages!
The inspiration for Roman Holiday started with the headlines of the day, right next to the ones denouncing him, about the young Princess Elizabeth (the pre-coronation future Queen of England). She was in Malta to be near her husband, Prince Philip. Away from the pressures of the royal court, the Princess happily immersed herself in the life of a commoner: shopping, sightseeing and dancing. The papers reported she even enjoyed the novelty of visiting a local hairdressing salon. Sound familiar? Here’s a link to a reprint of an article that in 1949 Trumbo, most likely, saw some version of in the American newspapers:
But, as will happen with writers, something from deep within their hearts always seems to subconsciously end up on the page. And, for Trumbo, what ended up on the page was a cinematic love letter to his wife.
Joe Bradley is a writer; Trumbo is a writer. Joe is keeping his identity a secret so he can do his job; Trumbo was keeping his identity a secret so that he could do his. In speaking, ostensibly about his small apartment, Joe/Trumbo says: “Well, life isn’t always what one likes, is it?” Princess Anne/Cleo, replies: “No, it isn’t.” Princess Anne and Joe fall in love within 24 hours. Trumbo proposed to Cleo the moment he met her.
Proof that kismet exists, the same words can be used to describe both Audrey Hepburn and Cleo Trumbo: ‘petite,’ ‘dark-haired,’ ‘fine boned,’ ‘graceful’ and ‘natural beauty.’ Let it be said, however, that Trumbo bore absolutely no physical resemblance to the tall, dark and handsome Gregory Peck what-so-ever!
From one of his prison letters written to Cleo, he reminded her of the night she needed a ride and called upon him. Recognizing it as a turning point in the story of his life, he reminiscences about that night when a “… weary, frightened, teary-eyed girl who got into my car was the luckiest night of my life.”
A teary-eyed Princess Anne and Joe have a turning point in their story played out in a car, also. Though for them it’s not the beginning of their time together; but the end. Trumbo rewrote his past to reflect his ominous present, acknowledging that there were forces in his own life, as in his character’s, that were beyond his control and would have to be answered to. For Trumbo, that meant serving 11 months in a federal penitentiary in Ashland, Kentucky as prisoner #7551.
But, remember the conclusion of his cinematic love letter? It’s a declaration of Trumbo’s absolute devotion to Cleo. He and Cleo had kept many secrets together; they were together in adversity and he, hopeless romantic that he was, believed they would remain together even when apart. He was right. Their marriage remained intact throughout his incarceration and Dalton and Cleo Trumbo remained together in wedded bliss until his death in 1976.
MOOD FOOD: What food? These are worlds of cigarettes and champagne. Smoking is strongly discouraged, so skip the cigarettes – unless they’re candy cigarettes (and yes, they do still make those). But, like the dialogue itself, floating on champagne is highly recommended. And gelato. By all means gelato.
CLASSIC ATTITUDE: Have convictions. Honor your convictions. Wrap them in a loving embrace and protect them above all else.
