☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Born
Yesterday (1950) – G. Cukor
The plot of Garson Kanin's play doesn't
seem too subtle -- a brash tycoon trying to buy influence in Washington DC
hires a reporter to teach his "dumb blonde" girlfriend to act more
properly -- but, in fact, George Cukor's film pulls it off amusingly. The
majority of the credit is due to Judy Holliday who won an Oscar for her
portrayal of Billie Dawn, the showgirl who may not be as dumb as she
seems. Her delivery is so off-hand and
nonchalant that it throws you off your guard and adds a certain naturalism to
what is otherwise a tightly scripted affair.
William Holden is excellent as the idealistic political reporter who
teaches Billie about Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and the workings of
democracy -- so much so that she comes to realize that her boyfriend is in the
process of bribing members of Congress to get his way. Broderick Crawford is all bluster as the
tycoon junk dealer but fulfills his role well.
A bit naive perhaps (when seen from the vantage point of 65 years on)
but enjoyable all the way through.
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