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Movies / On DVD / Born Yesterday
Born Yesterday

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Born Yesterday (1950)

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95 %
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Reviews Counted:20

Fresh:19

Rotten:1

Average Rating:8.1/10

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: 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,... 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. [More]

Starring: Judy Holliday, William Holden, Frank Otto, Broderick Crawford

Starring: Judy Holliday, William Holden, Frank Otto, Broderick Crawford, Howard St. John, Larry Oliver, Grandon Rhodes, Barbara Brown, Claire Carleton, Charles Cane, Helen Eby-Rock, Mike Mahoney

Director: George Cukor

Director: George Cukor
Composer: Frederick Hollander

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Born Yesterday

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Magic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 03:37 AM

Time Out

tomato

The real chemistry on screen is between [Judy] Holliday and [Michael] Crawford who deftly and wittily explore every nuance of their relationship.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 24 2003 08:14 AM

Channel 4 Film

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 26 2009 03:18 AM

Variety

tomato

Michael E. Grost

Lively political comedy.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 08 2008 01:28 PM

Classic Film and Television

splat

Dave Kehr

George Cukor directed, a little impersonally for him.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 11 2008 04:37 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato

Marjorie Baumgarten

Judy Holliday steals the show as the dumb blonde whose gangster boyfriend wants her to acquire some culture, so he hires her a tutor.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 11 2008 04:09 PM

Austin Chronicle

tomato
4/4

The highlight of this lively Garson Kanin Broadway comedy is the most delightful 'dumb blonde' to ever grace the screen...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 11 2008 01:18 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato
A-

Emanuel Levy

By the timer Kanin's play was made into a film, the work has lost some of its political bite, and the last reel is too preachy for a comedy, but make no mistake, as the dumb blonde Judy Holliday is brilliant.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 10 2007 05:32 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
B

Dennis Schwartz

Its attack on the political system being corrupted is too mild for today's even more expanded corrupt times.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 03 2006 01:29 PM

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

tomato
4/5

Brad Laidman

It's full of great ideas about the wonder of the common man.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:48 PM

Film Threat

tomato
4/5

Thomas Delapa

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 12 2005 03:35 PM

Boulder Weekly

tomato
4/5

Christopher Null

Fun and funny, with some fabulous verbal sparring.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 15 2005 10:36 PM

Filmcritic.com

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

Speaking in a ditsy, shrill lilt that hints at concealed wisdom, Holliday slyly turns the dumb-blonde stereotype inside out.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 03 2004 07:35 AM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
5/5

Carol Cling

No review available.

comment Comment | Sep., 10 2004 04:43 PM

Las Vegas Review-Journal

tomato
5/5

Robin Clifford

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 14 2004 12:32 PM

Reeling Reviews

tomato
4/5

Frank Swietek

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 06 2004 01:09 PM

One Guy's Opinion

tomato
5/5

Susan Granger

Forget the re-make. This is the original!

comment Comment | Apr., 15 2004 06:48 AM

www.susangranger.com

tomato
4.5/5

Bosley Crowther

More firm in its social implications than ever it was on the stage and blessed with a priceless performance by rocketing Judy Holliday, this beautifully integrated compound of character study and farce made a resounding entry at the Victoria yesterday.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 20 2003 05:17 PM

New York Times

tomato
4/5

Ken Hanke

Classic translation of the play that would have been even better with Paul Douglas.

comment Comment | Dec., 29 2002 04:49 PM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato
4/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 02 2002 08:27 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

 
 
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