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Born Yesterday

  • 19501950
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
William Holden, Broderick Crawford, and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
31 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

A tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette, with unexpected results.A tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette, with unexpected results.A tycoon hires a tutor to teach his lover proper etiquette, with unexpected results.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • George Cukor
  • Writers
    • Garson Kanin(play)
    • Albert Mannheimer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Judy Holliday
    • William Holden
    • Broderick Crawford
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Cukor
  • Writers
    • Garson Kanin(play)
    • Albert Mannheimer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Judy Holliday
    • William Holden
    • Broderick Crawford
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 100User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos1

    Born Yesterday
    Trailer 1:44
    Born Yesterday

    Photos31

    Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    Broderick Crawford and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    William Holden and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    William Holden and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    William Holden and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    William Holden and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    Broderick Crawford and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    Broderick Crawford in Born Yesterday (1950)
    William Holden, Broderick Crawford, and Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday (1950)
    "Born Yesterday" William Holden, Judy Holliday 1950 Columbia

    Top cast

    Edit
    Judy Holliday
    Judy Holliday
    • Billie Dawnas Billie Dawn
    William Holden
    William Holden
    • Paul Verrallas Paul Verrall
    Broderick Crawford
    Broderick Crawford
    • Harry Brockas Harry Brock
    Howard St. John
    Howard St. John
    • Jim Deveryas Jim Devery
    Frank Otto
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Larry Oliver
    • Congressman Norval Hedgesas Congressman Norval Hedges
    Barbara Brown
    Barbara Brown
    • Anna Hedgesas Anna Hedges
    Grandon Rhodes
    Grandon Rhodes
    • Sanbornas Sanborn
    Claire Carleton
    Claire Carleton
    • Helenas Helen
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Hotel Workeras Hotel Worker
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Cane
    • Policemanas Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Helen Eby-Rock
    • Manicuristas Manicurist
    • (uncredited)
    Mike Mahoney
    • Elevator Operatoras Elevator Operator
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Marion
    • Interpreteras Interpreter
    • (uncredited)
    William Mays
    • Bellboyas Bellboy
    • (uncredited)
    John Morley
    • Nativeas Native
    • (uncredited)
    David Pardoll
    • Barberas Barber
    • (uncredited)
    Bhogwan Singh
    Bhogwan Singh
    • Nativeas Native
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Cukor
    • Writers
      • Garson Kanin(play) (screenplay revision)
      • Albert Mannheimer(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Uncouth, loud-mouth junkyard tycoon Harry Brock descends upon Washington D.C. to buy himself a congressman or two, bringing with him his mistress, ex-showgirl Billie Dawn. Brock hires newspaperman Paul Verrall to see if he can soften her rough edges and make her more presentable in capital society. But Harry gets more than he bargained for as Billie absorbs Verall's lessons in U.S. history and not only comes to the realization that Harry is nothing but a two-bit, corrupt crook, but in the process also falls in love with her handsome tutor. —Paul Penna <tterrace@wco.com>
    • national film registry
    • political satire
    • education
    • rye whiskey
    • man wears eyeglasses
    • 117 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • BROADWAY'S BIGGEST HIT...now a perfectly swell motion picture!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To help build up Judy Holliday's image, particularly in the eyes of Columbia Pictures chief Harry Cohn, Katharine Hepburn deliberately leaked stories to the gossip columns suggesting that her performance in Adam's Rib (1949) was so good that it had stolen the spotlight from Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. This got Cohn's attention and Holliday won the part in Born Yesterday (1950).
    • Goofs
      In the final scene of the movie Billie and Paul are pulled over by a motorcycle cop. There are three shots, one of them driving to the curb, one of them talking to the officer, and then driving away. The officer who talks to them is obviously much older (and bigger) than the thin young man in the first and third shots.
    • Quotes

      Billie: Would you do me a favor, Harry?

      Harry Brock: What?

      Billie: Drop dead!

    • Connections
      Featured in Film Preview: Episode #1.2 (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36, 2nd movement
      (uncredited)

      Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

      Played at the outdoor concert

      Also played on the phonograph

    User reviews100

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A perfect performance from a classy lady!
    Delightful! Hilarious! How often do we get to see a perfect performance? We're closing in on a century of movies and, as we can see, it's pretty rare. So flawless was Judy Holliday's portrayal of Billie Dawn that, as a relative unknown, she came from behind to beat out two heavyweights for the Oscar in 1950. I'm sure this was due in no small part to her refining the role for nearly three years on stage.

    Everything else fell into place as well. Broderick Crawford was just excellent as Harry Brock. Crawford is able to swing you back and forth between anger and sympathy for his character. Not an easy task! William Holden is perfectly calm and reserved as Paul Verrall. His character forms a wonderful opposite to Billie. And, with direction, George Cukor worked his usual magic.

    Most of the themes are timeless. A person lives in ignorant bliss until their eyes are opened. They realize that there is a better life for them and begin their struggle for improvement. They discover that their greatest opponents to advancement are not those above them, but those at their current level.

    A few of the elements are dated. Particularly Jim's speech about how hard it is to find a corrupt politician in Washington. Wow. Maybe that was the case in 1950. Now it's impossible to find an honest one.

    It all comes back to Judy Holliday. This movie is her vehicle. She was a rare talent who we were only able to see for a very short time. I love all of her movies and this one, Born Yesterday, is my favorite.

    Thank you Judy!!!!!!
    helpful•37
    5
    • CMUltra
    • May 4, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Juce rodjena
    • Filming locations
      • Statler Hotel - 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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