esrosedotblog

Today's film, a classic Judy Holliday vehicle.

Born Yesterday (1950)

Directed by Garson Kanin, Holliday is Billy Dawn. Prototypical dumb blond until, well that is what the picture is about..

This is a delight in every way. Supported by William Holden, Broderick Crawford and Howard St. John, the stage hit is reproduced in a way that somehow misses all the pitfalls of such adaptations.

Holliday is fantastic and everyone else rises to the occasion as Billy Dawn discovers she has a brain and that she can use it for her own advancement.

Another thing that happens here is patriotism. The Bill of Rights is featured. Part of Billy Dawn's awakening. (get it? Billy Dawn? Well I did not until just moments ago). Not too heavy handed and very effective. She walks the streets of Washington DC and we do it with her. All the sites and sights. Thomas Jefferson plays a part with his Memorial. A movie has to "open the play up" and this is done very effectively.

This is also one of the early women's lib efforts. Flying under the radar of course. It was the Fifties after all.

I saw it when it first came out and then again and again ever since. This earns the film a 5 out of Netflix5.