Main Cast: Melanie Griffith, John Goodman, Don Johnson, Edward Herrmann, Max Perlich
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
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, All Movie Guide
Fred Dalton Thompson - Senator Hedges; Nora Dunn - Cynthia Schreiber; Michael Ensign - Phillipe; Benjamin C. Bradlee - Secretary Duffee; John Achorn - Senator Banks; Selma Archerd - Lois; Matthew Faison - Congressman Hulse; William Forward - Senator Duker; William Frankfather - Senator Kelley; Terri Hanauer - Mrs. Dorn; Ann Hearn - Mrs. Banks; Kate McGregor-Stewart - Mrs.Hulse; Mary Gordon Murray - Bindy Duker; Tony Palladino - Barber; Sally Quinn - Beatrice Duffee; Theodore Raimi - Cynthia's Assistant; Rondi Reed - Victor Penny; Gordon Reinhart - Jewelry Store Owner; Drew Snyder - Senator Dorn; Fritz Sperberg - Jose Perical; Meg Wittner - Mrs. Kelley; Celeste Yarnall - Mrs. Hedges; John Wesley - Senator Welch; Andi Chapman - Mrs. Welch; Cathy Sandrich; Amanda Mackey-Johnson; Arthur Leeds - Man at Party; Marisol Massey - Waitress; Aaron Michael Lacey - College Freshman; Freda Foh Shen - Maid
Credit
Bruce Crone - Art Director, Chris Soldo - Associate Producer, Cathy Sandrich - Casting, Amanda Mackey-Johnson - Casting, Miranda Garrison - Choreography, Stephen Traxler - Co-producer, Colleen Atwood - Costume Designer, Luis Mandoki - Director, Lesley Walker - Editor, Stratton Leopold - Executive Producer, George Fenton - Composer (Music Score), Naomi Donne - Makeup, Kevin Haney - Makeup, Ray Delamotte - Camera Operator, Lawrence G. Paull - Production Designer, Lajos Koltai - Cinematographer, Lester Berman - Producer, D. Constantine Conte - Producer, Nancy Patton - Set Designer, Rick Simpson - Set Designer, Philip Toolin - Set Designer, Leslie Dixon - Screenwriter, Douglas McGrath - Screenwriter, Kevin Bartnof - Foley Artist, Garson Kanin - Play Author
A businessman, on a trip to the nation's capital, is socially embarrassed by his ditzy blonde girlfriend. He hires a reporter to 'teach her the ropes'. Unfortunately for the businessman, his girlfriend becomes too savvy, questioning his interactions; also the reporter begins to fall in love with her.
The Razzies
Griffith was nominated for the 1993 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for her performance in the film.
