“Do what I’m telling ya!” —Harry Brock
Today’s quick review: Born Yesterday. Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford), a brutish millionaire, wants to break into the world of DC politics. Realizing that his uneducated fiance Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday) might be a liability, he hires Paul Verrall (William Holden), an erudite reporter, to teach her. But as Billie learns more about culture, history, and politics, she begins to see Harry for the lout he really is.
Born Yesterday is a classic romance about a corrupt businessman, his clueless fiance, and her upright tutor. Part comedy, part drama, Born Yesterday fluctuates in tone as the film goes on. Harry’s scenes are invariably loud and full of strife, pushing the comedy into the background. But as the film begins to focus on Billie, it develops as a comedy and a romance, slipping in more high-impact punchlines and fleshing out Billie and Paul’s relationship.
Born Yesterday is most notable for Judy Holliday’s performance as Billie Dawn. Blunt and unrefined, Billie is nevertheless a sweet woman, and Paul’s teaching helps bring out the best in her. Holliday handles all facets of the character with equal skill, from her shrill arguments with Harry to her innocent, playful side to her delight in learning from Paul. The character is well-developed and interesting.
The other leads do a fine job as well. Broderick Crawford plays the loud, domineering Harry Brock with a natural ease, though his shouting wears thin after a while. William Holden plays a somewhat reserved Paul Verrall, a patriot who expresses himself mainly through the lessons he teaches Billie. Their romance is tame but sweet: Billie sees in Paul a true gentleman, while Paul sees in Billie a good-natured and open-minded woman.
Give Born Yesterday a shot if you are interested in classics with strong acting. Its hybrid nature keeps it from excelling too much as a comedy, a drama, or a romance, but its jokes reliably hit their mark, its conflicts result in a decent plot, and its romance has a certain charm to it. Skip it if you’re looking for a more focused entry into any of its genres.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for an excellent lead performance and a good script.