Born Yesterday (1950)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Garson Kanin (play)
Albert Mannheimer (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

28 May 1951 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A perfectly swell motion picture!

Plot:

A million dollar Tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette.

Plot Keywords:

Crook | Congressman | Washington D.C. | Etiquette | Mistress

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Cane	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Manicurist (uncredited)
Mike Mahoney	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Paul Marion	...	Interpreter (uncredited)
William Mays	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
John Morley	...	Native (uncredited)
David Pardoll	...	Barber (uncredited)
Ram Singh	...	Native (uncredited)
Smoki Whitfield	...	Bootblack (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Garson Kanin		(play)
Albert Mannheimer		(screenplay)
Garson Kanin		(screenplay revision) uncredited

Produced by
S. Sylvan Simon	....	producer

Original Music by
Friedrich Hollaender		(musical score) (as Frederick Hollander)

Cinematography by
Joseph Walker		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Charles Nelson

Production Design by
Harry Horner

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Costume Design by
Jean Louis		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair styles

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Earl Bellamy	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jack A. Goodrich	....	sound engineer (as Jack Goodrich)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Morris Stoloff	....	musical director

Other crew
Max Gordon	....	produced on the stage by
David Pardoll	....	dialogue supervisor

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1951) (France) (theatrical) (35 and 16mm)
• Europa Film (1951) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Union Film (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

France:U | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1951) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:TV-PG | Finland:S | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #14779) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Jefferson Memorial - 900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The "teapot" referred to was "Teapot Dome Scandal", an unprecedented bribery scandal and investigation during the administration of President Warren G. Harding.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first discussion between Paul and Billie, the position of Billie's left arm changes between shots.

Quotes:

Paul:A world full of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

America, the Beautiful

Timeless Judy

She bursts into the screen. Every tiny little nuance in her extraordinarily telling eyes are absolutely true and we surrender to her persona without even thinking about it. She was miraculous. "I'm stupid and I like it" she tells William Holden with devastating sincerity. She exudes such honesty that it's impossible to be indifferent to her. Ruth Gordon and Garson Kannin concocted a realistic fairy tale that Judy Holliday inhabits (rather than inhibits)with overwhelming naturalness. It is a sensational creation and George Cukor, as usual, puts the camera at her service to magnificent results. Look at the card game, no cut aways from her face for which, I was enormously grateful. If you haven't seen it, rent it now. You'll have an unforgettable time.