One of the most common terms in today’s political and cultural scene is “woke.” It’s an intrinsically annoying term, since it is the misuse of the past tense of the verb “wake” as an adjective. This erroneous adjectivization sounds like an offensive imitation of Ebonics, which is ironically opposite of the term’s very purpose. The word has been used by the civil rights movement since the 1960s, but it was appropriated by the mainstream media around 2015. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” However, it’s most often used by its opponents to mean conforming to the extreme leftist, liberal, or even Marxist agenda which is being pushed by the mainstream media these days. Some conservatives use the term “awake” as the opposite of “woke.”
Today’s Moment of Movie Wisdom is from “Born Yesterday” (1950). The scene takes place 59 minutes into this 102-minute movie. Political journalist Paul Verrall (William Holden) has been hired by junk racketeer Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) to educate his ditsy “fiancée,” Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday). Billie has been flirting with Paul since he started tutoring her, but she now expresses frustration that he has been interested in nothing but education. In response to her complaints about the hassle of learning, Paul reminds her knowledge doesn’t come naturally to anyone; it has to be acquired. However, he believes it’s as important for him as it is for her that she continues learning, since “a world full of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.”
The Scene
When the scene begins, we find Billie sitting on a pile of books in her hotel suite, looking dejected. She’s listening to a Beethoven record, but her newfound enthusiasm for culture is wearing thin. Paul comes in and tries to joke with her, but she’s in no mood for levity. Billie pessimistically declares their romance is doomed because Paul dropped the ball, but he hints they still have the chance for a future together.
Billie isn’t convinced this slim chance with Paul is worth the trouble to which she has gone. She admits she has only tried to improve herself for his sake, saying she never thought she would go to such lengths for anybody. Getting excited, she says that she doesn’t think it’s good to get mixed up with her head, “like wondering and worrying and thinking.” Paul becomes emphatic as he tries to convince her that learning is a challenge for everyone. To illustrate his point that “nobody’s born smart,” he says an infant is the stupidest thing in the world, although he adds he has nothing against a young mind which is still empty. However, he is less patient with a 30-year-old mind which hasn’t absorbed anything. Taking his point personally, Billie is outraged that Paul guessed her age within a year.
Its Significance
There are so many powerful scenes in this film that I struggled to choose one to highlight. Ultimately, I decided on this one because it highlights how hard it is to broaden someone’s outlook, whether someone else’s or your own. The crux of this film’s plot is the dynamic between Billie and Paul, which is by no means simple, and this particular scene reveals a lot of things about their relationship.
When Harry first offers Paul the job, the younger man is understandably hesitant. Culturing any ignorant 30-year-old is no easy feat, and it could prove very dangerous when she is the beautiful blonde moll of a violent mobster. Harry offers him a large salary, but the money isn’t what makes Paul accept the job. As we see in his first scene, Paul is a political snoop who wants to discover and expose dirty secrets, such as how Harry made and maintains his fortune. The tutoring job gives him the opportunity to get very close to Harry. Nevertheless, even that is not the only reason he takes the job.
Billie Dawn Goes to Washington
“Born Yesterday” is a George Cukor comedy, but it has elements of a Frank Capra drama. A naïve protagonist, political corruption, a ruthless racketeer, and a brave hero are qualities this movie shares with many of Capra’s most beloved classics. It even features an inspiring tour of patriotic landmarks in the capital which Paul shows Billie.This scene shows that true learning is about more than memorizing facts and going through formal education. It’s about opening your mind, broadening your horizons, and awakening to the truth. If we can help others see the truth for themselves, like Paul does for Billie, that’s one of the greatest gifts we can give.
