Stars: Judy Holliday, William Holden, Broderick Crawford, Howard St. John

Director: George Cukor

Summary: A corrupt millionaire employs a tutor to teach his girlfriend social sophistication. But things don't work out quite as planned.

Judy Holliday reprises her Broadway role in this fresh and entertaining comedy based on Garson Kanin's play, directed by George Cukor. Although reputedly not the first choice for the film role, Holliday won an Academy Award for her priceless portrayal of a "dumb but savvy" blonde who outsmarts the man who attempts to control her. Junk tycoon Harry Crock (Broderick Crawford) uses his ignorant and naive mistress, ex-chorus girl Billy Dawn (Holliday), as a front for his shady deals but finds himself embarrassed to travel in Washington society with his illiterate paramour. Crock hires a journalist (William Holden) who agrees to educate Billy. Holliday is delightful in her transformation to a woman of intellect and culture; the Pygmalion-like story is filled with laughs and sexual innuendo. Billy is an apt pupil and the brutish Crock is the loser in the love game in this appealing, deft film.

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Born Yesterdaywas the box-office comedy hit of 1950 and won a Best Actress Oscar for the exceptional Judy Holliday, recreating her long-running Broadway triumph as Billie Dawn, the quintessential dumb blonde who finally gets herself some smarts. The film resonates with the sophisticated sparring in Garson Kanin's script and there are tightly controlled performances from William Holden as the cynical journalist hired to polish Billie up for Washington society and Broderick Crawford as Harry Brock, her rough, crooked and ambitious boyfriend.

But Born Yesterdayis Holliday's picture, as she runs the gamut from brassy insouciance to tentative, vulnerable enlightenment. She hasn't thought of her estranged father in five years: "It's nothing against him. I haven't thought of anything in five years." Her gradual awakening to the realisation that she is a stooge for Brock's corrupt business deals, and the way she sheds her chorus girl's intellect in the face of growing political awareness, are brilliantly traced. Holliday's dead-pan delivery makes the pathos of her self-discovery both hilarious and deeply touching; it's the hallmark of a comic genius, which makes the sparseness of her subsequent film appearances all the more regrettable.

On the DVD:Born Yesterdayis presented in full screen (1.33:1) ratio. Like the mono soundtrack, the black and white picture quality has triumphantly survived its more than half century. Extras include a gallery of vintage advertisements and an original theatrical trailer, plus filmographies and welcome, comprehensive booklet notes. --Piers Ford

Aspect Ratio:	1.33 Full Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, Stills Gallery, Filmographies
Subtitles:	Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Year:	1950
Release Date:	August 5, 2002
Runtime:	98 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R 10022
Keywords:	Born, Comedy, General, Yesterday
Genre:	Comedy