Judy Holliday: “She Dominates”

David Thomson wrote:

The story goes that Adam’s Rib was a conspiracy between Cukor, Katharine Hepburn, and Garson Kanin to convince Harry Cohn, the boss of Columbia, that Judy Holliday should play the dumb blonde in the film of Born Yesterday. It is a pleasant memoir from one of the most talented cliques within the movie world. And it is probably based on truth, even if we would be naive to put much trust in benign conspiracies.

The film itself looks set up, especially in that early scene when attorney Hepburn interviews client Holliday. The scene is long, elaborately written, but filmed in one blatantly convenient setup – convenient, that is, for the virtuoso playing from Holliday. She does not simply steal the scene, but plays with it like a cat with a mouse. The effect is the more startling and contradictory in that such technical mastery is emanating from a character ostensibly stupid, impetuous, and imperceptive. Even granted Hepburn’s complicity, the upstaging is lurid. There are moments at which Hepburn seems to say to herself, “My, my, what a clever girl you are.” Holliday seldom looks at Hepburn. Like a child, she stares away into emptiness, the better to concentrate on herself. Yet, without looking, she dominates, so that Hepburn ends up as edgy and hesitant as the client should be.

Apparently, the “trick” worked and Cohn put Holliday in Born Yesterday (she had originated the role on Broadway). Holliday ended up winning the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday.

Naturally, I recently re-watched Born Yesterday because of, uhm, that project I’ve been working on.

The famous gin scene below:

One of my favorite moments is when Holden shows up at the door after the gin game, and hands her a pile of books for her to read. She turns to go put them on the table, saying, “I’ll tryyyy …” in that crazy voice … Please look at the expression on her face as she takes the books. Please notice how Judy Holliday somehow suggests the heaviness of the books – like: I’m supposed to read these??? A book??? What’re you crazy?? But it’s all done in just a look in her eye – a devastated look – and a slight gesture showing the weight of the books.

And a great spontaneous kiss between them, with no preamble. Don’t miss the last moment with the light-switch.

Slam DUNK.

And … scene!