Rebirth in America

William Whitt is indeed an experienced filmmaker. If it had been anyone else, the preparation would have taken more than a month. With his vast network of contacts, he could get those things done with just a few phone calls.

Props artist, makeup artist, lighting engineer, supporting actors, etc., everything is under William's control. He has been holding his breath for a long time. He hasn't made a movie in so many years, and he wants to use this movie to announce his return.

In the early 1950s, due to the rampant destruction of McCarthyism in the United States, Hollywood movies began to show signs of decline under the dual influence of political movements and the impact of television. The number of people going to movie theaters every week is gradually decreasing, and movies are no longer watched by as many people as they were more than a decade ago.

Until William Whitt's comeback, he revived Hollywood movies. "Roman Holiday" was his first film to change the status quo in Hollywood.

He shoots movies very quickly. For him, a small-scene movie like this is just a small test.

"This is the promotional poster for "Roman Holiday". Do you think there is anything else that needs to be changed?"

A staff member from the marketing department placed a sample in front of Alex, which read: ""Roman Holiday" starring Gregory Peck will be released soon!"

Alex glanced at it casually and discovered a question. He said, "Why isn't Audrey Hepburn's name listed?"

The staff member replied: "Gregory Peck is the most famous in the film, and our marketing department believes that we should focus on him for promotion."

Alex was not angry either, but he said decisively: "Change it immediately! Change his name to Audrey Hepburn!"

The staff member was hesitant and wanted to retort: ​​"But..."

Alex was too lazy to waste time arguing with the people below. He said loudly: "Nothing! Execute my order immediately!"

"Okay! You are the boss, I listen to you!" The staff had no choice but to leave angrily.

Just as Alex was preparing to promote "Roman Holiday" in preparation for its release. Something happened that shocked the world and was also the best publicity for the movie. While the film was still being filmed, news spread in the UK that Princess Margaret had fallen in love with British air combat hero Peter Townsend. Soon, they ended in a low-key manner due to the opposition of the British royal family.

This incident is undoubtedly very similar to the storyline of "Roman Holiday" and attracted the attention of a large number of viewers. As Alex, who comes from an era of rampant Internet hype, of course he would not let go of such a good opportunity. He immediately asked the marketing department to prepare various gimmick promotional slogans based on this unexpected incident. However, a line of small words was printed under each poster: "This film is purely fictional!"

After seeing the poster, viewers who did not know the truth thought that the movie was a real event and was adapted from the love story of Princess Margaret.

In August 1953, DreamWorks' first film "Roman Holiday" was finally released.

This is a touching love story. As the heir to Wang Wei, Princess Anne made public visits to major cities in Europe. As soon as the news came out, it caused a great sensation, and everyone wanted to know about the princess.

The last stop of the princess's European trip was Rome. She wanted to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery of Rome, but the attendants refused on the grounds that the princess' status was noble and it was not suitable to be seen in front of ordinary people. The princess then tried to sneak out, but she didn't know that she had been injected with a sedative.

Just as the princess was sleeping on a bench at the fountain near the square due to a drug attack, an American news agency reporter, Joe Buley, happened to pass by. The kind-hearted Joe took Anne back to his residence and staged a Roman holiday. During this short one-day trip, the two fell in love.

The princess knew that the relationship between the two parties could not last, and she had her own obligations, so she gave up her love.

The poor reporter Joe could have taken advantage of the opportunity to become famous overnight and prosper from then on, but in the end he did not fall into the vicious circle of chasing fame and fortune, but quietly buried it all in his heart.

Looking into each other's eyes affectionately, the princess gently said goodbye to Joe. A short encounter of 24 hours created an eternal love.

Because he was very confident about the film, Alex invested a lot of money in publicity from the beginning and arranged for it to be released in as many theaters as possible. After watching the edited film, Alex was even more convinced that the movie might be a big success. As expected, after the movie was released, it immediately aroused enthusiastic response from the audience, and the box office results soared into the sky like a rocket.

The simple and elegant dress style of Hepburn's Princess Anne in the film immediately became popular all over the world, and fashionable women began to imitate the dress in the film. The youthful and lively "Hepburn hair" also became popular immediately. Walking on the street that year, you would always see several girls who looked like Hepburn.

Alex originally planned to have the premiere of "Roman Holiday" in New York, but William and the others opposed it. They thought it would be best for the film to premiere in Europe. In the end, they chose to premiere it in London, and then participated in the Venice Film Festival that year.

At the premiere, Peck specially introduced Hepburn to the famous Hollywood director, actor and writer Meir Feige. Meir is a good friend of Pike, and their relationship is extraordinary. Parker admired Meir's talent and believed that Meir could bring Hepburn greater success.

Meir was 36 years old at the time, with a tall and thin figure, an angular face, versatile, gentle and considerate. Like Hepburn, Meir was multilingual, and they quickly became close. Hepburn also became attached to the charismatic Meir.

Alex also attended the premiere at that time. When he saw this scene, he remembered a rumor about the love between Parker and Hepburn. He watched Hepburn and Meir talking happily, turned to Parker and said, "It seems you really love Hepburn."

Parker was so shocked by Alex's words that he almost ran away. He didn't expect that the feelings he buried deep in his heart would be seen through by a 12-year-old child. He was silent for a while, not wanting to lie on this issue, and finally said: "I can't give her happiness, so I can only let go and bless her."

Alex shook his head and said: "Do you think letting go can make the person you love happy? This is really wrong. If you can't give her happiness, why can others give it to her? You will regret this mistake today. I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

After saying that, Alex ignored Parker with a complicated expression on his face and left without looking back. Alex also liked Hepburn very much and always regarded her as his goddess. However, like Pike, he did not dare to take the goddess into his arms easily. He could only look at each other from a distance, hoping for her happiness.

Parker really fell in love with Hepburn, which is known from later reports.

During this period, Parker was busy dealing with divorce from his current wife. He didn't dare to express his feelings to Hepburn because he didn't want her to get involved, for fear of being misunderstood that it was because of Hepburn that he and his wife were at odds.

Hepburn didn't attach much importance to honor and money. What she really desired was to obtain true and eternal love. After Parker noticed it very keenly, he introduced his friend to her and worked hard to bring the two together.

Perhaps it was Pike's efforts to create opportunities that brought Hepburn and Meir together. At the wedding, Parker gave a butterfly brooch as a wedding gift. Hepburn liked this brooch very much and kept it with her until her death.

This is a brooch left by Parker's grandmother, and it has great significance.

When Hepburn died, Pike showed up at the funeral.

At this time, the gray-haired Parker burst into tears. He choked and said: "I was extremely lucky to be able to hold her hand and dance as Hepburn's first screen couple in that beautiful summer in Rome. ."

He lowered his head, pressed a kiss on Hepburn's coffin, and said affectionately: "You are the woman I love most in my life." Everyone present cried in tears.

That brooch was not used until more than ten years later, when Sotheby's auction house held a charity sale of Hepburn's clothing and jewelry during his lifetime. That day, Parker personally went to buy back the butterfly brooch that had been with Hepburn for 40 years. Parker passed away more than a month later.

Judging from these things, Parker loved Hepburn so deeply that he did not dare to reach out and touch him for fear of destroying the perfect goddess in his heart. Alex wanted to help him and change the fate of the two of them, but he didn't know how to do it.

The film immediately received a huge response from around the world and was extremely successful. The North American box office was as high as 5 million US dollars, and the overseas box office was as high as 12 million US dollars.

Even more successful was that Audrey Hepburn became a well-known icon overnight. She has an elegant and noble temperament, a graceful and refined appearance, a light and slender figure, and short black hair. Her appearance subverted the popular aesthetic of the blonde beauty at the time.

Hepburn was unique, with a thin figure, short hair, flat shoes, simple tailored trousers, shirts, etc. Freeing women from the constraints of Jane Russell's fluffy curly hair, tight sweaters, tight skirts and high heels, it can be said that she single-handedly changed the views of people throughout the era.

Ingrid Bergman, the famous movie star at that time, actually exclaimed when watching "Roman Holiday" in Italy, "I was deeply moved by Audrey Hepburn!"

Gregory Peck also said: ""Roman Holiday" is Hepburn's movie, and I am just a supporting actor." Peck's words were not only admiration for Hepburn's acting skills, but also the admiration of the reporters in the film.

When the New York Times reviewed Hepburn, it praised: "She is the first person who does not win by her sexiness."

"The Times" commented on Hepburn and praised: "She is like an angel in the world."

More newspaper reviews praised Hepburn, saying: "A new Garbo is born!"

As for DreamWorks Film Company, UU Kanshu www.uukanshu.net was regarded by many newspapers as a lucky guy who unintentionally dug a gold mine. Most of their praise is focused on the actors and directors, while others are ignored, and Alex is no exception.

When the movie was being finalized, Parker told people that Hepburn would definitely win an Oscar. Even though this is her first time starring in a film, he still thinks so.

Alex also thought so. He asked the company's public relations department to work on this matter and make sure to win this award.

Thanks to Alex's financial offensive at all costs, "Roman Holiday" received 10 nominations at the Academy Awards that year, including the most important nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, but if it is said that the most attractive The eye-catching one is still the best actress.

Don't think that Oscars don't cost money to buy. At this time of year, major film companies invest a lot of dollars in order to win awards for their films. There was a year when Spielberg said that we fed the ballot box, just not enough. This is implicitly accusing the studio of not spending enough money and missing out on awards as a result.

Of course, a bad movie will never win an Oscar no matter how hard the studio people publicize it. With a classic movie and sufficient public relations funds, it is very likely that it will successfully win awards. Award-winning films will attract more attention to the film, and the additional box office will make up for these expenses.

"Roman Holiday", released in 1953, participated in the Oscars, and the results will not be known until next year. Before that, they could only wait patiently.