'Born Yesterday'

We don’t know why we like watching her.  She does a shake-shake boogie to that song she likes, and we don’t want her to stop dancing.  She could play solitaire at that petite table, and we’d watch hand after hand.  We’re not sure if William Holden’s role as Paul Verrall (or Holden’s true personality) is likable, but we’re as interested in her as he is.

Judy Holliday is Emma “Billie” Dawn.  Billie isn’t graceful, but she has taste.   Billie will hesitate before she’s ordered to leave because she’s above irrational behavior.  Billie isn’t stubborn.  Billie is waiting for someone to show her the fundamentals beyond personal pleasure.  And she knows, deep down, fulfilling personal pleasures is not one of the essential fundamentals of life.

Her man, Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford of All the King’s Men), is obnoxious.  But we’re drawn to this guy, too, and can understand why individuals stay beneath his fist (for instance his lawyer, played by Howard St. John, who’s drinking his pride away).  Harry is a gluttonous, ill-mannered man of power who threateningly claps you on the back when offering a drink.  Also, and more importantly, he’s a full grown baby.  He wants what he wants, and he gets loud when he doesn’t get it.

Presently, Harry wants Paul of a Washington D.C. newspaper to “make a person over,” that is, Billie.  For $200, or possibly undisclosed motives of his own, Paul takes the job.

People become lost in love, politics, education, money, goodness, badness.  The United States of America is run by the people.  It is never too late for sheltered, or uninformed, Americans to learn of their history.  It is never too late to overrule intolerable men like Harry Brock or change your company.  Message received.

The lack of warmth in the final scenes is possibly due to Holden’s role not being portrayed as a prince.  He’s educated, yet perhaps as greedy as Harry for wanting impressionable Billie all to himself.  Billie has to prove herself, find herself.  In reality, especially in 2012 (as opposed to 1950), Ms. Emma Dawn (“Billie”) would probably have needed six months to a year of alone time.  Then, she’d let her man of choice know if, and when, she’s interested.

Overall, the characters are believable and fascinating to study; and the American idea of pursuing happiness is beautifully balanced by original play write Garson Kanin (Adam’s Rib) and as relevant in today’s world as it was yesterday.

FRAME RATE: 4-1/2 frames

NOTE:  Judy Holliday had played the role on Broadway.  Practice makes perfect and, in Holliday’s case, led to an Academy Award.  (Mira Sorvino played a similar, low-grade, Miss-Piggy-voiced role in Mighty Aphrodite and also took home an Oscar.)

NOTE:  Director George Cukor had previously made females the center of attention in The Women, The Philadelphia Story, Gaslight, and would do it again following Born Yesterday with A Star is Born, The Actress, and My Fair Lady.

NOTE:  There is a 1993 version of Born Yesterday starring Melanie Griffith, John Goodman, and Don Johnson.  I have never seen it.

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