Born Yesterday (1950)

Judy Holliday gives a knockout, career performance as the initially dim-witted ex-showgirl Billie Dawn, earning herself the Best Actress Oscar on her only nomination. Broderick Crawford plays her rough and tough self-made businessman boyfriend Harry Brock who hires newspaperman Paul Verrall, played by William Holden, to teach his "dumb broad" how to act in society so as not to embarrass him in public. Unfortunately for Brock, Billie learns more than he bargained for from the handsome Paul. Against the backdrop of Washington, D.C., where Brock has come to bribe a few congressman, Billie learns not only how to beat him at gin, but also what kind of man she's got. The kinder, more sensitive Paul naturally looks a lot better.

Directed by George Cukor, who earned his fourth unrewarded Best Director Oscar (he would win for My Fair Lady (1964) on his fifth and last nomination), with a screenplay by Albert Mannheimer, who earned his only Academy recognition with a nomination for his Screenplay, adapted from Garson Kanin’s play. The film (Best Picture) and its B&W Costume Design were also nominated. #24 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list. Remade in 1993 with Melanie Griffith, John Goodman, and Don Johnson.

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