Born Yesterday (1993)

23% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
29% of users liked it
(5,845 ratings)

This 1993 remake of the 1950 film Born Yesterday (based on the 1946 Garson Kanin stage play) was retooled as a star vehicle for then-marrieds Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Roughneck self-made millionaire Harry Brock (John Goodman) wants to become a powerful Washington lobbyist. Brock's efforts… More This 1993 remake of the 1950 film Born Yesterday (based on the 1946 Garson Kanin stage play) was retooled as a star vehicle for then-marrieds Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Roughneck self-made millionaire Harry Brock (John Goodman) wants to become a powerful Washington lobbyist. Brock's efforts to hobnob with DC uppercrust are compromised by his brash, embarrassingly vulgar mistress Billie Dawn (Melanie Griffith). He'd like to unload the ex-chorus girl, but he thinks he's in love: besides, she knows too much about his crooked dealings to be running around loose. Thus, Brock hires bookish Paul Verrall (Don Johnson) to educate Billie. Verrall does his job amazingly well, awakening Billie to her responsibilities as a loyal, honest American: along the way, the two fall in love. Featured in the cast are Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and his star reporter (and wife) Sally Quinn, cast as DC power brokers. Also appearing in a small role is 1960s starlet Celeste Yarnell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Luis Mandoki
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 26, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Mar 4, 2003

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady, Variety
The verdict on the makeover is not all good news.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The gin rummy game with Griffith and Goodman instead of Holliday and Crawford is enough to ruin a night out.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
There is a fatal disconnection between place and characters who, conceived in one era, are crazily transported into another in which they don't quite fit.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
To the growing list of unnecessary movies, add this remake of the Garson Kanin comedy.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
There's no sense of screwball mayhem in the picture, no topsy-turvy brightness.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
In old Hollywood, style could make up for a lack of substance, but this remake is without either.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Griffith almost makes it watchable. She is as charismatic a camera presence as ever, but her magic is mostly muted in this flat retread.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
Where Holliday was always too sophisticated a butterfly right from the off, Griffith's copycat performance starts dumb -- but then never takes wing.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In this pointless remake, essaying the Judy Holliday Oscar-winning role, Melanie Griffith gives a poor performance, marked by monotonous delivery and tiresome semi-spunky routines.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not so much bad as thoroughly pointless.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Much more enjoyable than you'd think. Griffith and Johnson sizzle.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Just rent the original. Trust me.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

A 90s rom com starring Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson that's basically a cheap knock off of Pygmalion with a shabby blackmail plot tacked on. As good as it sounds.
Sunil J

Melanie Griffith is a total charmer in this but everyone else is just okay.
Leo L

Great!

Cast

            Melanie Griffith as Billie Dawn

            John Goodman as Harry Brock

            Don Johnson as Paul Verrall

            Edward Herrmann as Ed Devery

            Max Perlich as J.J.

            Fred Dalton Thompson as Senator Hedges

            Nora Dunn as Cynthia Schreiber

            Michael Ensign as Phillipe

            Benjamin C. Bradlee as Secretary Duffee

            John Achorn as Senator Banks

            Selma Archerd as Lois

            Matthew Faison as Congressman Hulse

            William Forward as Senator Duker

            William Frankfather as Senator Kelley

            Terri Hanauer as Mrs. Dorn

            Ann Hearn as Mrs. Banks

            Kate McGregor-Stewart as Mrs.Hulse

            Mary Gordon Murray as Bindy Duker

            Tony Palladino as Barber

            Sally Quinn as Beatrice Duffee

            Theodore Raimi as Cynthia's Assistant

            Rondi Reed as Victor Penny

            Gordon Reinhart as Jewelry Store Owner

            Drew Snyder as Senator Dorn

            Fritz Sperberg as Jose Perical

            Meg Wittner as Mrs. Kelley

            Celeste Yarnall as Mrs. Hedges

            John Wesley as Senator Welch

            Andi Chapman as Mrs. Welch

            Cathy Sandrich
            
            Amanda Mackey-Johnson
            
            Arthur Leeds as Man at Party

            Marisol Massey as Waitress

            Aaron Michael Lacey as College Freshman

            Freda Foh Shen as Maid
See full cast