Born Yesterday (1950)

So, this is one of the funniest movies ever made in Hollywood. I'd rank this one around 6th or 8th in my "funniest movies ever" list. The scene where Ms. Holliday is keeping time to "Commando Patrol" is one of the funniest/most subtly funny scenes in all of movie history!!

This is a wonderful movie that you'll want to see primarily for its electrifying performances.Judy Holliday reigns supreme as the Duchess of Coney Island transplanted to Washington where she gets spoon fed a diet of long-overdue book learning, and offhandedly wooed, by smooth-talking straight arrow William Holden.Archboor, tycoon and ignoramus Broderick Crawford is out of his depth and sometimes seems out of his mind -- his volcanic performance routinely goes off the rails, providing the raw energy and unadulterated nastiness that makes this boy-meets-girl meets political satire of a movie so flawlessly balanced.Howard St. John is quite serviceable, and sad, as the alcoholic doormat lawyer/fixer for the creature played by Broderick Crawford. And everyone else from chamber maids to petty hooligans turns in a flawless supporting performance.There are scenes in this movie that are beyond priceless. My personal favorite is the one where Holliday and Crawford play gin rummy -- it is directed to perfection by the peerless George Cukor, who should have gotten his second (i.e., his first) Oscar for his work creating this gem.Don't miss this witty, fast-paced, funny and touching picture -- it is truly a must see.

Many other reviewers extol the abilities and excellent performance of Judy Holliday in "Born Yesterday." Her Oscar-winning performance as Billie Dawn is the highlight of this film. Still, Broderick Crawford as Harry Brock lends much energy to help drive this film. Made from a highly successful Broadway play, "Born Yesterday" touches on several social issues of the day. The ditzy blonde from a chorus line who becomes a paramour of a rich businessman. The greedy man of new riches who rose from the streets on his own, doing anything to others to get where he got – with no apparent conscience or care for anyone else. The self-centered but insecure big man who thinks he can buy his way into or out of anything. The loud, demanding lout who lavishes jewels and furs on his "kitten" one moment and the next is abusing her with vitriol or physical strikes. Into this crazy twosome comes William Holden's Paul Verrall. I liked Holden in this reserved role, and I think many reviewers may have missed something about his part. I see his character, with a sense of humor and calm reality about him, as a leveler in the action and drama. Without his easy-going and unintimidated poise, I think the violent nature of Harry Brock would have over-powered the film. Perhaps to the point that audiences – women especially, would find this much too brutal a character. But, Holden's cool Verrall doesn't jump through hoops for Brock, as Brock is used to so many others doing. Instead Verrall faces Brock, aware that the big man could pulverize him physically, but unafraid nevertheless. As a result, Brock backs off and he goes off muttering about the faults of everyone else. Howard St. John does a very good job as Jim Devery, Brock's legal beagle and lawyer on call. He keeps his conscience in check with alcohol. And, Larry Oliver as Norval Hedges plays a member of congress trying to help an obviously big contributor get an amendment to a bill that will greatly benefit his business. I understand that the Broadway role of Holden's part was greatly enhanced since he was the biggest drawing card for the film. But that's OK, as I noted above. He didn't steal the thunder of Holliday or Crawford, but he was a catalyst that seemed to keep the big boss from going completely berserk. The movie makers knew what they were doing in the casting and scripting of this film. Judy Holliday was a very talented actress who died of breast cancer in 1965 at age 43. She had only 16 films to her credit, but several were tremendous movies. She surely would have had many more fine roles had she lived longer. A favorite scene from this film was of Billie and Harry playing gin rummy. The looks on his face are a hoot as she picks up and quickly moves cards around in her hand. Within a few cards or picks from the pile, she lays her hand down with gin. Then, his shady character quickly counts off the cards he's stuck with in his hand, "28" one time, "34" another, and so on. We all know he's cheating, and she knows it too, repeating his count rhetorically, and he restating it as fact. What a riot as the uneducated not-so-dumb blonde takes the big man (also uneducated) to the cleaners.After reading, visiting museums, and studying a great deal with Verrall as her tutor, Billie would make a remark that showed her new knowledge. But often, she would utter a malapropism. One of my favorites was a line toward the end of the film when she stands up to Harry and his crooked ways. Verrall corrects the word, and she repeats it, but the humor is in the original utterance: "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhibit (sic) it."

If nothing else this movie would be a fitting and durable memorial to a wonderful actress. Judy Holliday was one of a rare group of actresses who exude warmth even as they crack wise, people like Celeste Holm, Eve Arden, Virginia O'Brien. For once all the elements are top drawer; Garson Kanin worked without credit on this adaptation of his own hit (it ran four years) Broadway play, reluctantly Columbia imported the female lead and lived to give thanks (Paul Douglas played the male lead on Broadway and Gary Merrill the third person in the triangle in what was a much smaller role on stage), whilst I wouldn't have objected if they'd hired Paul Douglas along with Holliday I can do without the wooden Merrill and William Holden takes what is essentially a foil and invests it with charm whilst Brod Crawford grabs the male lead by the scruff of the neck and acts the bejeezus out of it. A certified classic.