Holliday is perhaps underestimated; within a seemingly limited tonal range—that character-defining, squeaky, nasal voice—she locates enormous pathos. In fact, when I think ofBorn Yesterday, I less easily recall standalone jokes than Holliday’s downcast eyes and wounded-bird line readings. Her “I coulda been a star” moment predates Brando’s On the Waterfront monologue and packs a similar punch, mostly for being sadly tossed off in the middle of a conversation.
Some of the jokes and ideas are a little dated but it all comes back to Judy Holliday. Every expression, every syllables. I mean, she was nominated in Oscar against Bette Davis in "All About Eve" and Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard", and won.
Though a bit too didactic, something that plagues almost anything even-remotely feminist, this was still an engagingly well-crafted piece of storytelling by the underrated Cukor, who is the single best classic Hollywood director when it comes to working with female actresses and characters. I agree that Judy Holliday shouldn't have won the Oscar but she's wonderful in the scene in which she's playing cards.
If the oscar was for "Most Annoying Performance", then I agree, Holiday wins hands down...that voice was like nails on a chalkboard! But since the award was for acting, I don't see how Ms. Swanson could have lost that year. Her character in Sunset Blvd. has become an icon and that performance has stood the test of time, while Holiday's portrayal of a dumb blonde was mediocre at best.
There's plenty of people whose opinion I respect that absolutely love this film. After finally seeing it for the first time I thought it was a good but not great movie that was elevated by the turn of its leading lady. However, I admit that there were a few moments in which I found Holliday's acting quite irritating regardless of wheter Billie is supposed to be annoying or not. Even so, it's a charming performance.
Writing Billie off as just another dumb blonde does a disservice to Holliday. Billie's actually more clever than she thinks or her man lets her to think, and it troubles him when her true intelligence starts to show and she realizes her real worth. Although Holliday's Oscar win over the rest of the lovely ladies is baffling, her sensitivity and excellent comedic timing make the otherwise straightforward movie.
While it starts out fairly routine, with a bookworm VS blonde Pygmalion angle and some halfhearted American jingoism, the film very quickly becomes something special once Judy Holliday is given the narrative. This is her picture, she knows it, and she owns it. It's a beautiful performance - her pathos and her sensuality are all-encompassing.
Funny, funny movie! And smart. Holliday is the ultimate platinum blond ditz without any social grace that all future ones are based on. William Holden is also a favorite of mine. I love the characters he plays including this one.