"Born Yesterday" is a comedy with some serious ideas behind it. The film does a wonderful job in its subtle take about corruption in high places, the role of the lobbyists and influential people in Washington politics. The movie presents an interesting aspect for today's audiences, as things related to the film have been in the news lately, making the film relevant.

The comedy by Garson Kanin ran for years on the New York stage. Judy Holliday had starred on Broadway opposite Paul Douglas. For the movie version Broderick Crawford was selected. George Cukor directed with his well known style and getting excellent performances of this ideal cast.

The film is the gem it is because the great star turn by Judy Holliday, an actress that was unique in everything she did. Billie Dawn was one of the best achievements in the movies. Ms. Holliday was an intelligent actress who knew what made her character work. She made a wonderful contribution with Billie, who in spite of being supposed to be a girl without brains, Ms. Holliday shows her to be a smart no-nonsense woman with more common sense than anyone could give her credit for.

Broderick Crawford made quite an impression as the ruthless Harry Brock, a man that can't see the goodness in Billie. He constantly belittles her and even goes as far as slapping her on occasion, but that is what someone like him would normally do when he can't get his way, or thinks is being threatened by a woman like Billie. Mr. Crawford was a wonderful actor as proved in his appearances in Fellini's "Il bidone", and in "All the President's Men".

The other good performance was William Holden, who as Paul Verrall, transforms Billie from an abused woman into someone that is not afraid to open her mouth against the bully that has been taken her for granted for a long time. Mr. Holden clearly understood the man he was playing and makes a wonderful match for Ms. Holliday.

"Born Yesterday" is a fun film to watch because all the elements that went into it and the inspired direction George Cukor and the ensemble work of the cast, but especially from its star, Judy Holliday.

Borderick Crawford plays a vicious and low-class man who is power-mad and treats people around him like dirt. Despite his being such an awful person, he somehow feels embarrassed by the fact that his live-in girlfriend (Judy Holliday) lacks brains and class. So, he has the bright idea of hiring newspaperman William Holden to give her sophistication. Unfortunately, in the process, he infuses her with a thirst for knowledge and she ultimately realizes what a degenerate Crawford is and that she can do much better than wait for him to eventually marry her.

While this was an Oscar-winning film and I did enjoy it, I was struck by many things that confused me. First, it wasn't THAT great a film and the hype around it seems out of proportion to the film. Second, while I have often heard it described as a comedy, the film isn't really a comedy at all--despite having a few mildly funny moments. That's because although this could have been a great film, it was often way too serious and cruel to be laughed at--especially when Craword and Holliday did a very vivid scene where he beat her. I am an ex-therapist (now teaching) and seeing her slapped around was very, very disturbing to me--probably because I used to work with people who did that. It didn't bother my wife, as she said this furthered the plot, but I was left shaken as will many who have experienced abuse or know others who have. To me, spousal or partner abuse kill comedies--it just can't be funny. Now this did NOT ruin the film--it just made it tough for me to watch a few scenes.

As for the rest of the film, it was generally very good--though Crawford's character seemed so evil and awful that he seemed tough to believe. Holliday and Holden were great and the plot, believe it or not, is highly reminiscent of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. A good but flawed film.

What a brilliant movie this is. Wonderfully funny, beautifully acted, brilliantly directed and superbly scripted, this is a timeless delight from start to finish. The cinematography is marvellous as well, while the costumes and scenery have a certain elegance about them. The script is witty, funny and intelligent, with not a wasted moment on sight, while the story is endlessly engaging. The film is never dull either, and George Cukor's direction is the best it had been. The acting is just one of the many outstanding assets to this film. William Holden is wonderfully subtle and charming, but it is Judy Holliday's movie, with a presence that melts the heart she was made for the role and is just amazing. In terms of effective scenes, the gin rummy scene fits under that description, it is the epitome of cinematic perfection. Overall, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox