Mr. Movie – Judy Holliday » Voices » The Randolph Guide | Asheboro NC

Voices

Discussion

December 27, 2009

Mr. Movie – Judy Holliday

Anonymous The Randolph Guide Sun Dec 27, 2009, 01:38 PM EST

The movie career of Judy Holliday, who died in 1965 at the age of 43, spanned only 10 years.

Each of her films is a joy. She was typecast by Hollywood as a dumb blonde, but she had an IQ of 172 and she won two Tonys and an Oscar.

She had the rare ability to make you laugh and to feel good about life in general.

She was the wronged wife on trial for murdering her philandering husband in Adam’s Rib (1950), a Tracy-Hepburn vehicle with Spencer defending her and Hepburn prosecuting. This part was considered a screen test for Born Yesterday (1950).

Although she had gloriously played Billie Dawn on Broadway for four years, the studio for some reason didn’t think she was right for the movie. Boy, were they wrong!

Ms. Holliday won her Oscar for Born Yesterday, her signature role. She is the somewhat dim wife of Broderick Crawford, a ruthless business man who wants to impress (and do business with) Congressional types.

William Holden is hired to give her polish. She is funny and touching, and the teachers learn lots more than the student.

It Should Happen To You (1954) is also Jack Lemmon’s first film. Judy arrives in New York determined to make a name for herself, which she does by renting a billboard.

A sly comment on celebrity that stands up very well after 45 years, and a wonderful vehicle for Ms. Holliday and Mr. Lemmon.

Ms. Holliday stars as a small stockholder determined to oust a crooked board of directors in The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956). The cards are stacked but the laughs are frequent and genuine.

Judy Holliday’s last film is the much underappreciated Bells Are Ringing (1960). She runs a telephone answering service, and just has to meddle in the lives of her unseen clients.

Dean Martin lends a hand in this fine musical. Ms. Holliday did the singing herself both on the stage and in the movie.

She had a nice, ear-catching voice and made several records. The Party’s Over and Just In Time are highlights.

All of the movies in this column are available on video. All except Bells Are Ringing (yet another weird omission!). All are suitable for children of all ages, but probably would only be enjoyed by 10 and up.

Rusty Hammond has been writing the Mr. Movie column since 1996. It appears in several newspapers in North Carolina.

Text Only

Voices

Mr. Movie: Can magicians do all of that?
October 27, 2010
Jody Terry: Community pitches in
October 27, 2010
Larry Penkava: Deer me!
Deer are making themselves at home in Gopher Woods.

October 16, 2010
Mr. Movie: Marilyn Monroe
The short, unhappy life of Norma Jean Baker, a/k/a Marilyn Monroe, has been well documented. She was married to Joe DiMaggio and to playwright Arthur Miller.

October 16, 2010
Mr. Movie: Princess Grace Kelly
Hollywood has produced one real-life Princess in Grace Kelly.

October 15, 2010
Larry Penkava: Ila Mae goes home
Ila Mae Williams can rest in peace.

October 15, 2010
Larry Penkava: Asheboro in the spotlight
Asheboro’s Sunset (Avenue, not Boulevard) was the scene last Friday of cameras, sound booms, cables strung all over the streets and dozens of crew members acting like ants on a catered pizza slice dumped on the sidewalk.

October 13, 2010
Larry Penkava: Group hugs available
Maybe what we all need is a big hug. Times are hard, don’tcha know. The economy stinks, we’re in a never-ending war and Lindsay Lohan is looking at jail time.

October 13, 2010
Mr. Movie: Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal died at the good old age of 84. Experts said she should have been dead 40 years ago.

October 13, 2010
Larry Penkava: Roaches as a miracle drug?
Where the roaches are when you really need them?

September 17, 2010
More Voices Headlines

Voices

Search Results

Discussion

Mr. Movie – Judy Holliday

Site Map

How to reach us