In the 1953 classic *Roman Holiday*, the question of who ends up "better" or "worse" depends on whether you measure success by material gain or personal growth. While the film is a romantic comedy, it concludes on a bittersweet, grounded note that leaves the characters in very different positions than where they started.
### **Who ends up "Better": Princess Ann**
Though she ends the film heartbroken and returns to the "cage" of her royal life, **Princess Ann** is the only character who undergoes a transformative improvement in her character and agency.
* **At the Start:** She is a "caged bird" on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She is shown crying hysterically over the repetitive, soul-crushing nature of her schedule ("Yes, thank you. No, thank you."). She has no autonomy and is treated like a public monument rather than a person.
* **At the End:** She returns to her duties, but she is no longer the same person. She has gained a "steel in her spine." When her handlers attempt to lecture her on her "duty," she sharply rebukes them, saying: *"Were I not completely aware of my duty to my family and my country, I would not have come back tonight... or indeed ever again!"*
* **The Detail:** She has experienced a lifetime’s worth of freedom in 24 hours—getting a haircut, eating gelato, dancing, and falling in love. She ends the film with a secret, internal world that belongs only to her, giving her the strength to endure her royal role with a newfound sense of self-possession.
### **Who ends up "Worse": Joe Bradley**
From a practical and professional standpoint, **Joe Bradley** ends the film in a significantly worse position than he began, though he achieves a moral victory.
* **At the Start:** Joe is a cynical, debt-ridden American reporter living in Rome. He is desperate to get back to New York and sees Princess Ann as his "meal ticket." He makes a **$500 bet** with his editor, Mr. Hennessy, that he can get an exclusive interview, and is promised a massive payout of **$5,000** (roughly $58,000 today) if he succeeds.
* **At the End:** Joe chooses not to publish the story to protect Ann’s dignity. As a result, he loses the $5,000 payout, loses the $500 bet to his boss, and remains stuck in Rome with his debts.
* **The Detail:** The final shot of the film shows Joe walking away from the palace alone. He has lost the girl, lost the money, and potentially stalled his career. While he has "found his soul" and regained his integrity, his material circumstances at the end of the film are objectively dire.
### **Who ends up "Worse": Irving Radovich**
The photographer **Irving Radovich** is perhaps the most selfless "loser" in the film’s conclusion.
* **At the Start:** Irving is a working-class photographer struggling to make ends meet. He risks his physical safety and his equipment to secretly capture candid, "un-princess-like" photos of Ann (including her getting into a brawl at a dance and being arrested). These photos are a professional goldmine.
* **At the End:** Following Joe’s lead, Irving decides not to sell the photos. Instead, during the final press conference, he hands the envelope of photographs to Ann as a "memento of her stay in Rome."
* **The Detail:** By giving the photos away for free, Irving forfeits a life-changing sum of money. Like Joe, he ends the film with his integrity intact, but he is financially worse off than when he started, having spent his time and resources on a project that yielded zero profit.
### **Summary Table**
| Character | Starting Status | Ending Status | Verdict |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Princess Ann** | Overwhelmed, trapped, fragile. | Heartbroken but matured, assertive, and empowered. | **Better** (Internally) |
| **Joe Bradley** | Cynical, in debt, seeking a scoop. | More in debt, heartbroken, but morally redeemed. | **Worse** (Materially) |
| **Irving Radovich** | Hustling photographer. | Gave away his "scoop of a lifetime" for free. | **Worse** (Materially) |
| **Mr. Hennessy (Editor)**| Skeptical boss. | Wins a $500 bet against Joe. | **Better** (Financially) |