Born Yesterday

Amazon.com

Judy Holliday's Oscar-winning performance is just one of the reasons to watch this terrific 1950 comedy, which is equally acclaimed for its deliciously witty screenplay (based on Garson Kanin's long-running Broadway hit) and George Cukor's silky-smooth direction. Holliday plays Billie Dawn, the floozie fiancée of a junk-dealer millionaire (Broderick Crawford), who is trying to make a good impression among the Washington, D.C., politicos he's hoping to influence. To ensure that Billie gets properly "culturefied," the corrupt Crawford hires a D.C. journalist (William Holden) to give the seemingly dim-witted blonde a crash course in politics, history, literature, and--you guessed it--true love. Billie's not nearly as dumb as she seems, of course, and before long she's graduated from pawn to sassy queen on her husband's political chessboard.

Watching Born Yesterday is a crash course in itself--an object lesson in how low American screen comedy has fallen from these delirious heights. The movie's funny even when there's a pause in the golden dialogue, such as when Holliday tests Crawford's patience in a sublimely comedic round of gin rummy. There's not a single scene in which Holliday (reprising her Broadway role) isn't simply perfect, the cogs turning smoothly behind her dim expressions and coarsely high-pitched squeal. Suave as ever, Holden is her match made in heaven, and Crawford is a brute who's too stupid to be genuinely malevolent. Put 'em all together and you've got a timeless classic, so flawless that a 1993 remake was instantly doomed to pale comparisons. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Born Yesterday.......2007-06-25

New York-born comedienne Holliday had her first real film break the prior year as the wronged wife in the Tracy-Hepburn comedy "Adam's Rib" (1949), and her solid supporting turn helped her clinch the role of Billie, a role she'd done on Broadway. With its witty screenplay and "Pygmalion"-like story, the result was pure gold, netting Holliday the Best Actress Oscar for 1950, and jump-starting her film career in earnest. Broderick is wonderfully crude as her pre-occupied husband, and Holden performs the unheralded job of straight man with finesse. And Judy is fantastic. Smoothly paced comedy from master George Cukor.

Another classic to love.......2007-04-02

I remember seeing this film when I was 12 or so with my Mom. It left an impression and I knew I would have to add this to my classic movie collection. How I enjoyed watching Judy Holliday's performance, she was unique with a wonderful sense of comedic timing. Anyone who collects classic comedies should add this to the list.

What Learning Will Do to You.......2007-04-02

Born Yesterday begins with a narcissistic junk dealer Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) who is planning a major merger with his company to make loads of money. He uses his dizzy girlfriend Billie (Judy Holliday) as a middleman, though he really controls everything she "owns." She is just content to accept his lavish gifts and be pretty. That is until Paul(William Holden) comes along. He is hired by Harry to educate Billie; she embarasses him in front of sophisticated company. In the process, she learns just how corrupt her fiancee is and why her father has disowned her. She also develops eyes for her teacher.

Holliday won the Oscar for her performance in this film against such professionals as Bette Davis and Gloria Swanson. Indeed, her performance is wonderful. One can watch her character transform before one's eyes from a gold digging chorus girl to an intelligent woman. Her relationship with Holden is believable and powerful. In fact, all of the roles are well developed. The dialogue is conversational but intelligent, making this a very worthwhile film.

Great Performance.......2006-12-04

I'm not a big Judy Holliday fan. She seems to have played the ditzy but smart squeaky-voice role over and over. This said, Born Yesterday is easily her best movie. The script is smart and sweet and she and William Holden have a natural, believable screen chemistry. The performances are excellent as is the Pygmalion like transformation of Holliday's character from mouse to lionness. A great comedy of manners and morality.

A Revival of Sorts........2006-09-11

This original Oscar-winning movie starring Judy Holliday was clever, witty and wise. It was shown on TCM with Nick Clooney guiding us with his winning ways into the mood of the Forties. He couldn't have seen the original at the theaters, either, as he and I are the same age, so I know I didn't see it when I was only ten. I thought the moll was ditzy and pretty dumb with a silly-sounding voice. In Pulaski, Nate Street from Hickman County, a radio personality who liked to be thought of as a drama critic as he always attended dress rehearsal of the college plays, voiced his like for this crazy dame. So, I thought that if he thought she was so good, as she was in "Bells Are Ringing," maybe he was right again.

Today, I saw a revival of "Born Yesterday" with my favorite local actor as the genius, Paul Verrall. He was splendid as I expected, though he did not have the Washington, D.C. accent. The whole performance was professionally done at the Clarence Brown Theater here. Previously, I was lucky to have stumbled into a performance in which Terry Weber was a one-man play about Abraham Lincoln/John Wilkes Booth and have never enjoyed a performance of any play more. He has an unusual talent to be serious, musical, and sometimes funny.

The play centers around political corruption in which Billie becomes unknowingly involved. That is, until Paul tutors her on proper ways of thinking and talking so as to 'fit in.' Judy played to the camera and acted as a silly, dumb blonde. Today, the actress was unusually clever in adopting Judy's unique way of speaking but showing how easy it is to change practically overnight into an educated woman who can fall in love and not just be used by a rich man. She was smart enough to take her furs when she left him. Broaderick Crawford, known for "Highway Patrol" on television, could not have been as brutal as Neil Friedman from Chicago as Harry Brock. He didn't even use his Chicago accent. That was good acting to say the least. Terry was the star of this revival of sorts, a revolution against violence and money laundering of any kind.

Average customer rating:

Original, light hearted romantic comedy that's sure to please!
Worst thing I have seen in a long time
MUST HAVE!
A very good movie
Has cute moments - stress moments

Mr. Fix It
Starring: David Boreanaz , Alana De La Garza , Patricia Place , Dallas McKinney , and Pat Healy
Director: Darin Ferriola
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IONJEM
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Customer Reviews:

Original, light hearted romantic comedy that's sure to please!.......2007-08-23

I must admit, I don't know much about David Boreanaz, other than he's had the lead in several TV series. That being said, I found him quite enjoyable to watch. I thought his acting was solid as was his comedic timing. The female lead is played by Alana De La Garza, who is absolutely gorgeous! This movie starts off a little slow (as do all great romantic comedies), then builds and leaves you glowing as you walk out of the theatre, realizing that true love does in fact exist, if we let it walk into our lives. All in all, a very well written and acted movie. Highly recommended!!

Worst thing I have seen in a long time.......2007-08-10

I never write reviews but I just had to warn people how terrible this is. It's just awful, I barely stopped cringing the whole time. I have no idea why David Boreanaz did this movie, cos he's actually a pretty good actor...in other things.

MUST HAVE!.......2007-05-07

love david boreanaz and once again he knocks it out of the park

A very good movie.......2007-01-23

The movie was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it from beginning to end. I'm a David Boreanaz fan and his acting in this movie is a far cry from his serious roles in 'Angel' and 'Bones'. He was just so comical in it.

Has cute moments - stress moments.......2007-01-22

I rented this mainly because I am a David Boreanaz fan. The film is a long lost cousin of "Hitch" and is rather contrived. But romantic comedies are contrived - nothing new here. I enjoyed watching David Boreanaz smile - his other roles are always so serious - I very rarely seen him smile. Besides - he is easy on the eyes. Not all movies are a home run - I realize that. Anyhow, this film had some redeeming moments. This film is a very high-end Lifetime movie. As another reviewer stated - watch this movie only if you are a David B. fan. The female lead, Alana De La Garza, is the new lawyer on "Law and Order" and played the girlfriend of Horatio on "CSI - Miami"

Average customer rating:

disappointed
Romantic and quirky
Loved it!!!
Hard to Find DVD
Old fashioned search for love story...

Born Romantic
Starring: Craig Ferguson , Ian Hart , Jane Horrocks , Adrian Lester , and Catherine McCormack
Director: David Kane
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000063K0J
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Amazon.com

A cheeky comedy about love's labor being well beyond lost, Born Romantic stutters out of the gate and never quite recovers. Perhaps it's the gaggle of local quips, jokes based on British television personalities, for instance, or the cameo-like nature of its ever-revolving cast, but director David Kane can't seem to sit still long enough to artfully set up his punch lines--anathema to a feature-length comedy. Set mostly in a London salsa club, the film trails behind a series of lonely thirtysomething singles as they search out one-night stands in the hopes of stumbling upon something more meaningful, namely love. As they shuttle to and fro in late-night minicabs, we're afforded insight into their shortcomings, past disappointments, shagging abilities, and ostensible charms, the cab serving as both confession booth and makeshift bedroom. Featuring a cast of recognizably talented faces, including Jimi Mistry (East Is East) and Olivia Williams (Rushmore), Born Romantic unfortunately never manages to shake its initial impression of being an inflated sitcom better pared down for television. --Fionn Meade

Description

Three young meneach cursed with two left feetfind that the right steps to salsa dancing can lead to love in this hilarious romantic film"a feel-good date movie in the Four Weddings mold" (Uncut)! Starring Craig Ferguson ("The Drew Carey Show"), Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Jane Horrocks ("Absolutely Fabulous"), Adrian Lester, Catherine McCormack,Jimi Mistry, David Morrissey and Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense), Born Romantic will take you for a dizzying spin through three quirky courtshipsand leave you "smiling and believing that love really can conquer all" (Good Housekeeping)! A certified lounge lotharioseeks to heat things up with an art historian who's cooled on the idea of love. A failed musician wants to strum the right chord with the bride he jilted years earlier. And a dyslexic mugger with a chloroform-doused cloth finds himself knocked out by a pretty grave attendant. They've got their workcut out for them. And yet, at a local club pulsating with the hot sounds of salsa music, any one ofthese three could find the answer to his romantic quandary if they can only find the rhythm in time.

Customer Reviews:

disappointed.......2007-05-14

I purchased this movie based on other reviews and was sorely disappointed. It was a waste of time and money.

Romantic and quirky.......2007-03-10

This film passes muster for me because it is romantic, quirky and the characters are linked in interesting ways. The main threads in this film that bring the characters together are a salsa club and a cab driver with an interesting past. Very BBC. A warning for some: as in many British films, there are a few spots of F-word spouting, which is why it is rated R.

Loved it!!!.......2006-11-24

I really loved this movie! It was so enjoyable. A really offbeat funny feelgood movie! However my American husband lasted all of 10 minutes as he could not understand the accent. I would still highly recommend this movie (maybe with subtitles for those not from Commonwealth countries)

Hard to Find DVD.......2006-11-05

This romantic comedy was charming, funny, and clever. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a problem with heavy British accents. (If you do, try it with captions). It was fun, funny, and a nice pick-me-up when one needs a lift.

Old fashioned search for love story..........2006-11-05

If you're looking for exciting chase scenes, gratutious nudity, explicit sex scenes, and formulaic mega-spectacle, then this one is not for you. But, you will love this movie if you love dance, dancers, searchers for true love, cynics whom true love find, oddballs who find their one true soul mate, and good guys who win in the end. All in one underrated and underreviewed masterpiece. Ignore the naysayers. Take a chance and see this one. Share it with someone you love. You will not regret it.

Average customer rating:

disappointed
Romantic and quirky
Loved it!!!
Hard to Find DVD
Old fashioned search for love story...

Born Romantic (Dol)
Starring: Craig Ferguson , Ian Hart , Jane Horrocks , Adrian Lester , and Catherine McCormack
Director: David Kane
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Cranham, Kenneth | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hart, Ian | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Horrocks, Jane | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Norris, Hermione | ( N ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Williams, Olivia | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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ASIN: B000063K4L
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

disappointed.......2007-05-14

I purchased this movie based on other reviews and was sorely disappointed. It was a waste of time and money.

Romantic and quirky.......2007-03-10

Loved it!!!.......2006-11-24

Hard to Find DVD.......2006-11-05

Old fashioned search for love story..........2006-11-05

Average customer rating:

disappointed
Romantic and quirky
Loved it!!!
Hard to Find DVD
Old fashioned search for love story...

Born Romantic [Region 2]
Starring: Craig Ferguson , Ian Hart , Jane Horrocks , Adrian Lester , and Catherine McCormack
Director: David Kane
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005KITN

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

disappointed.......2007-05-14

I purchased this movie based on other reviews and was sorely disappointed. It was a waste of time and money.

Romantic and quirky.......2007-03-10

Loved it!!!.......2006-11-24

Hard to Find DVD.......2006-11-05

Old fashioned search for love story..........2006-11-05

Average customer rating:

A Star Is Born
Starring: Irving Bacon , Jane Barnes , Vince Barnett , Clara Blandick , and Wade Boteler
Manufacturer: Eclipse Music Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVD:

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