IMDb > Born Yesterday (1950)
Born Yesterday
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Born Yesterday (1950) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   3,418 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
George Cukor
Writers:
Garson Kanin (play)
Albert Mannheimer (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Born Yesterday on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 May 1951 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Comedy | Romance more
Tagline:
A perfectly swell motion picture!
Plot:
A million dollar Tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
Unique Gem more (53 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Judy Holliday ... Emma 'Billie' Dawn

Broderick Crawford ... Harry Brock

William Holden ... Paul Verrall
Howard St. John ... Jim Devery
Frank Otto ... Eddie
Larry Oliver ... Congressman Norval Hedges
Barbara Brown ... Mrs. Hedges
Grandon Rhodes ... Sanborn
Claire Carleton ... Helen
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Garson Kanin sold Born Yesterday (1950) to Columbia Pictures for $1 million, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for a film property. more
Goofs:
Continuity: After Mr. and Mrs. Hedges leave, Billie goes out of the room dancing to the sound of the radio, with a lit cigarette in her left hand. The next shot shows her entering in the other room with no cigarette at all. more
Quotes:
Harry Brock: Shut up! You ain't gonna be tellin' nobody nothin' pretty soon!
Billie Dawn: DOUBLE NEGATIVE! Right?
Paul Verrall: Right.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V) more
Soundtrack:
The Battle Hymn of the Republic more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
37 out of 45 people found the following comment useful.
Unique Gem, 4 August 2004
10/10
Author: WindWoman3 from United States

Okay, so Bette and Gloria lost out to Judy Holliday in this Oscar race 50 years ago. In 20/20 hindsight, have there not been enough scenery-chewing, over-the-top dramatics that have won Academy Awards over the years? Even the least of actors acknowledge that comedy is more difficult to play well than drama.

When I watch "Born Yesterday" - I KNOW I'm observing two masters at work: Judy Holliday and Broderick Crawford. (Holden gives a good performance, of course, but can't hold a light to his co-stars in this particular project.) Holliday is mesmerizing with every expression, every screechy syllable - and watch those hands during the gin game! Perfection in each gesture. Crawford pulls off a nifty trick by making the viewer simultaneously loathe and feel compassion for his character.

Although she died before I was even a twinkle in my mother's eye, I think I could have hung out with Judy Holliday (nee' Judith Tuvim.) I like intelligent people, and I've read that she was a brilliant woman. Makes sense: it takes some serious smarts to play so dumb. She was a funnier Marilyn before there WAS a Marilyn.

Partially because she died so young, and partially because of her refusal to play patty-cake with the HUAC, she is now an under-appreciated memory. There's one more reason to love Judy: can you think of any other person hauled before the HUAC who had the . . . <ahem> . . . gonads to confound the committee by appearing as a character from one of their own movies? And pull it off? Now that, ladies and gentlemen, takes guts AND brains!

Treasure this unique gem and then . . .

Thank God for the short-lived, but stunning talent of Judy Holliday.

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more (53 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Born Yesterday (1950)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ju-dy, Ju-dy, Ju-dy!! She Deserved That Oscar csu16387
this is a COMEDY?? j_hughes2000
anti-capitalist twob_ornot
the marriage license itmaylooklikeawalnut
What song is this? celestey-1
Bill Holden is hot with those glasses ladylavende
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