IMDb > Pretty Baby (1978)
Pretty Baby
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Pretty Baby (1978) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
Pretty Baby (1978) -- YouTube
.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   3,264 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Polly Platt (story)
Polly Platt (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Pretty Baby on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 April 1978 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
In 1917, in the red-light district of New Orleans, they called her "Pretty Baby" more
Plot:
A pre-teen girl grows up in a house of prostitution in the Storyville section of New Orleans in 1917. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(14 articles)
Susan Sarandon at Stockholm Film Festival
 (From Alternative Film Guide. 29 November 2009, 8:14 PM, PST)

Lost Tennessee Williams Project Reborn
 (From EmpireOnline. 25 November 2009, 3:30 AM, PST)

User Comments:
An incredibly frank but humane movie of the type that doesn't seem to be made anymore. more (58 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Brooke Shields ... Violet

Keith Carradine ... Bellocq

Susan Sarandon ... Hattie
Frances Faye ... Nell
Antonio Fargas ... Professor
Matthew Anton ... Red Top

Diana Scarwid ... Frieda
Barbara Steele ... Josephine
Seret Scott ... Flora
Cheryl Markowitz ... Gussie
Susan Manskey ... Fanny

Laura Zimmerman ... Agnes
Miz Mary ... Odette
Gerrit Graham ... Highpockets
Mae Mercer ... Mama Mosebery
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Christopher Reeve turned down the role of Bellocq, in order to prepare for his role in Superman (1978). more
Quotes:
[said to Bellocq twice]
Violet: I love you once. I love you twice. I love you more than beans and rice!
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Winin' Boy Blues more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
28 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
An incredibly frank but humane movie of the type that doesn't seem to be made anymore., 9 June 2005
8/10
Author: Ham_and_Egger from Indianapolis, Indiana

A beautifully filmed movie which tells a difficult story with a subtlety and power that leaves you thinking about it during odd moments for days. It's that much more disconcerting because all the while you're keenly aware that this isn't based on "a true story" but on millions of true stories throughout history, including today, and in every part of the globe.

Due to my age I'd never seen 'Pretty Baby' in the theater or, for some reason, read much about it. I was aware of the basic plot but didn't know I'd be seeing quite so much of a naked 12 year-old Brooke Shields. A couple of moments were honestly difficult for me to watch, but I've come to the conclusion that the nudity is absolutely essential to the telling of the story. You *have* to be forced to see exactly what those men were paying for.

The brilliance of director Loius Malle's film is that he constantly subverts the audience's desire to be aghast at what we see. The camera finds happy little moments throughout the movie, your mind is left to fill in the ugly realities. This trend continues to the end, which is like a cruel mirror image of the typical happily ever after Hollywood ending.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (58 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pretty Baby (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Can star in it but to young to watch it. Valentina6671
Strange scene zaphod1957
Pretty Baby: Is it true? zaphod1957
$400 in 1917 daveharrison84
Nudity jminn1000
Wasnt she underdeveloped for her age????? plonkeh
more

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