STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - BORN YESTERDAY

BORN YESTERDAY (1950)

Comedy reigned supreme at the 1950 Academy Awards when Judy Holliday, swept past leading contenders Bette Davis ("All About Eve") and Gloria Swanson ("Sunset Boulevard") to capture the Oscar as Best Actress for her legendary comic performance as the irrepressible Billie Dawn in George Cukor's "Born Yesterday".
Based on the successful stage comedy by Garson Kanin, Holliday had already performed the role countless times on Broadway, but Columbia Pictures mogul Harry Cohn was not convinced he should hand the juicy part over to her and favored Rita Hayworth, for whom he bought the property in the first place. However, Cukor in cahoots with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy virtually used their comedy "Adam's Rib" as a screen test for Holliday and "Born Yesterday" was hers.
Cukor cast hunky William Holden as her romantic mentor and Broderick Crawford, fresh from his Oscar winning role in "All The King's Men" as her blowhard boyfriend Harry Brock. The sparks fly and so do the laughs as this unpredictable little blonde turns the tables on everybody, proving that she's smarter than they thought and wasn't "Born Yesterday"!




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with John "Johnny" Bixler and Steve Hayes

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Judy Holliday
• Academy Award
• Oscar
• Billie Dawn
• George Cukor
• Born Yesterday
• William Holden
• Broderick Crawford
• Classic Hollywood
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• Steve Hayes
• Tired Old Queen at the Movies
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[rextrek]

as usual Funny,and Informative...you are a riot! You didn't mention - when did Judy holiday die? I remember her in "Bells are ringing"

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

@rextrek

She died at 43 in 1965 of cancer. She fought bravely, but couldn't beat it. Such a loss!

[fxander518]

I think it's terrific that Judy won an Oscar, especially for a comedy performance! LOOOOVE your reviews, Steve...(I've been looking for "The Best of Everything". Have you covered that one yet?) XO

[zanetierney]

well, its a shame that gloria swanson or bette davis did not get the oscar for what has to be their 'definitive' roles..[and i love eleanor parker in 'caged' also] but i'll always believe judy did deserve the win. it is truly one of the great comic turns ever! love this movie! she is a riot! thanks steve!

[MSSiren]

As much as I love Sunset Blvd. (and that's a lot) I think Judy deserved her Oscar for Born Yesterday. She's wonderful in this (as well as every other movie she did!).

[ptboat67]

Judy Holliday was brilliant, but I still think she robbed Gloria Swanson of the Oscar. Thank you for doing these INCREDIBLE introductions. You are simply amazing.

[tonymarru]

It is so sad that Judy Holiday passed so young. She was such a huge talent. You remarked about the strong supporting cast. I think one of the actors outshined was Howard St. John. He certainly tried his best to grab a scene or two ,,,,tough to do with Judy of course !

[zamusicza]

LOL we watch the card playing bit on youtube all the time. SCHNIERDER....PAY ME NOW...SORE LOSER!!! Love love love this movie. Jean Arthur is close to my favorite actress but she could never have done what Judy did with this role.

[rextrek]

@STEVEHAYESTOQ thnk u for answering my question....appreciate it. Yes so young 43..wow, and Ill be 50 end of this month..... where does time go? I was 5 when she died.