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A world full of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.
—Paul Verral
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A 1946 play by Garson Kanin, Born Yesterday is also best known for its 1950 film version directed by George Cukor. The play opened with Judy Holiday, who won an Oscar as Best Actress for the film version where she stared with Broderick Crawford and William Holden.
The story concerns Harry Brock, an unscrupulous tycoon who wants even more money. To do that, he desires to buy the favors of a few congressmen. Unfortunately, his girlfriend Billie is completely lacking in social skills; to remedy this, he hires journalist Paul Verral to give her an education. Unfortunately for him, he didn't count on her realizing just what kind of man he is.
Born Yesterday was added to the National Film Registry in 2012.
Tropes used in Born Yesterday include:
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Harry.
- Dumb Blonde: What Billie is initially.
- Genius Ditz: She may never have read a newspaper, but no one beats Billie at gin rummy
- Karma Houdini: Harry.
- Pretty in Mink: Billie commenting on how a mink coat was one of the few things she ever wanted.
- Pygmalion Plot[context?]
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money: Harry is the epitome of this.
- Simpleton Voice: Judy Holliday, who possessed a genius-level IQ in Real Life, intentionally invoked this trope to play Billie Dawn.