Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday, motion picture based on the play by Garson Kanin about a brassy woman and her attempts to become cultured. Released in 1950, this film stars Judy Holliday in an Academy Award-winning performance as Billie Dawn, a woman whose unpleasant husband has recently moved up from his job as a junk dealer to “dealer in scrap metal.” The man thinks that Billie’s coarse behavior reflects poorly on his new upper-class status, so he hires a reporter to teach her how to act properly. As Billie refines her personality, she quickly outclasses her husband and begins to lose interest in him.

Director

• George Cukor

Cast

• Judy Holliday (Billie Dawn)
• Broderick Crawford (Harry Brock)
• William Holden (Paul Verrall)
• Howard St. John (Jim Devery)
• Frank Otto (Eddie)
• Larry Oliver (Norval Hedges)
• Barbara Brown (Mrs. Hedges)
• Grandon Rhodes (Sanborn)
• Claire Carleton (Helen)
• Smoki Whitfield (Bootblack)
• Helen Eby-Rock (Manicurist)
• William Mays (Bellboy)
• David Pardoll (Barber)
• Mike Mahoney (Elevator operator)
• John Morley (Native)
• Charles Cane (Police officer)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Actress (1950): Judy Holliday
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress—Musical/Comedy (1950): Judy Holliday