Born Yesterday (1950) Movie Trailer

Plot Summary: Born Yesterday (1950) directed by George Cukor, based on the play by Garson Kanin of the same name, is about a corrupt tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) who brings his mistress Emma ‘Billie’ Dawn (Judy Holliday) with him to Washington D.C to buy a congressman.

Though he gets his lawyer Jim Devery (Howard St. John) with him, he finally employs Paul Verrall (William Holden), a journalist to tutor ill-mannered Billie. As the film progresses Billie falls in love with Paul and transforms into this independent, freethinking woman. She refuses to give Harry back his assets, which he had kept under her nameto hide them from the government. The film ends with Billie intimidating Harry to move away from her and Paul’s life, promising him that he would return his possessions little by little.

Quotes from Born Yesterday

Billie Dawn: He always used to say, “Never do nothing you wouldn’t want printed on the front page of The New York Times.”

Harry Brock: How d’ya like that?! He could’ve had a hundred grand. She could’ve had me. Both wind up with nothin’. Dumb chump! Crazy broad!

Billie Dawn: One night I brought home a hundred dollars and gave it to him. Do you know what he did?… Well, it sure didn’t do the plumbing no good.