Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
#1

"Born Yesterday" Question

I rewatched this movie again today, and I have a question! How did Billie Dawn own as many shares of the company as she did?
#2

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Thinking she was too dumb to know what she had, Brock signed them over to her to hide them from the government.



What great ones do the less will prattle of

Updated On: 4/30/08 at 03:36 PM

#3

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

That makes some sense! Also, I couldn't remember is name, but it was Brock......Harold Brock, right?
#4

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Harry.. Harold.

Great American Play.

I saw a tepid production with Madeline Kahn a hundred years ago. Even a comic thoroughbred like Kahn couldn't touch Holliday.
What great ones do the less will prattle of
#5

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Hmmmm....Ellen Greene or Faith Prince might have been good as Billie once upon a time.

Don't mind me I'm just talking to myself.

What great ones do the less will prattle of

Updated On: 4/30/08 at 03:43 PM

#7

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Or Melanie Griffith. re: 'Born Yesterday' Question
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
#9

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Saw a very tepid production of it recently as well. I do love the classic film.
Celebrate Life

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch

#10

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

BFB, I saw that production, too. I adore both Madeline Kahn and Judy Holliday, but you are so right, Ms. Kahn paled in comparison. I was actually bored.

Ed Asner was Harry Brock. It was still boring.

Judy Holliday is magnificent. You can't take your eyes off her...no easy task when William Holden is always on the screen!
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars
#11

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Judy Holliday replaced Jean Arthur in the play when it was out of town.

It wasn't working with her in it.

And Jean had turned down the role of Mary Bailey in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" to do the Broadway production of "Born Yesterday."

Bad career move, ultimately.

Nice break for Donna Reed though.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#12

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Jean Arthur is my #1 favorite film actress.
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars
#13

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

My favorite Arthur performance is in A Foreign Affair.

Talk about a movie that needs to be on DVD!!!


What great ones do the less will prattle of
#14

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

I especially love her in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars
#16

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Here's my favorite part:

Billie: "Thirty? Do I look like I'm 30?!"

Paul: "How old ARE you?"

Billie: "TWENTY-NINE!"
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars
#18

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

I adore Jean Arthur, but she's just not Billie Dawn. She's too smart (as a persona), too girl-next-door, and too headstrong.

Judy Holliday was VERY smart in real life, but she could play "dumb and resigned" so well. And she was more "of the streets."

And as CRAZY a year for Best Actress nominees (maybe the toughest year EVER!), I think she deserved her Oscar.

But any of the other nominees could have won: Bette Davis & Ann Baxter in "All About Eve," Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Blvd." and Eleanor Parker in "Caged" (so good!).

Yet Judy ruled.

And I totally get it.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#19

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

That brings up a debate I've always wanted to have!
Excluding Judy, "Who do you you think out of the other four nominees should have won the oscar?"

My vote would be for Gloria Swanson!
#20

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

best12, I'm glad she turned it down. Donna Reed was the perfect Mary Bailey.
#21

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

As much as I adore Jean Arthur (and I do!), her career downfall gave two stars their big breaks! Judy Holliday AND Donna Reed became stars, because of her decisions and ultimately unfortunate fate.

Norma Shearer made similar "questionable" choices. She TURNED DOWN Scarlett in "Gone With the Wind" and the title role in "Mrs. Miniver."

Her last big film was 1939's "The Women." But after her husband Irving Thalberg died, I'm fully believing her heart simply wasn't in it anymore.

Still she "gave" the Oscars and a place in film history to both Vivien Leigh and Greer Garson.

No foolin'. All she had to do was say "yes," and those two ladies would have missed out on their ultimate roles.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#22

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Judy Holliday completely deserved that Oscar. And that's from someone who loved the other films and performances.

It's too bad she never a film as good as BORN YESTERDAY, but thank goodness we have it.

Besty, I didn't mean to imply for even a second that Jean Arthur would have been a better Billie Dawn than Judy Holliday. Can't see it.

I can see Jean Arthur as Mary Bailey though. Not that Donna Reed wasn't perfect in the part!

BTW, didn't Norma Shearer turn down GONE WITH THE WIND to star in HER CARDBOARD LOVER?
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

**********

"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"

~ Best12Bars
#23

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Love the film!
If I heard the bells and the banjos ring
#24

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

Glad Judy won the oscar.
If I heard the bells and the banjos ring
#25

re: 'Born Yesterday' Question

I'd vote for Gloria Swanson also as a second choice.
If I heard the bells and the banjos ring

BroadwayWorld TV


Ticket Central
Hot Show
Tickets From $89
Hot Show
Tickets From $89
Hot Show
Tickets From $72
Hot Show
Tickets From $65