Baby Face poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Donald Cook, Arthur Hohl, John Wayne ... see more see more... , Henry Kolker , Margaret Lindsay , Douglas Dumbrille , Theresa Harris , Alphonse Ethier , Joan Barclay , Robert H. Barrat , Walter Brennan , James Bush , Charles Coleman , Charles "Heinie" Conklin , Cecil Cunningham , Frank Darien , Arthur de Kuh , Harry Gribbon , Maynard Holmes , Edward J. Le Saint , Reginald Mason , Spec O'Donnell , Nat Pendleton , Charles Sellon , Harry Semels , Harry Tenbrook , Edward Van Sloan , Renee Whitney , Harry Wilson , Toby Wing , James Murray , John Elliott , Douglass Dumbrille

Baby Face is a good example of the kind of spitfire lead female characters that appeared in the cinema of pre-code Hollywood. Lily Powers (Barbara Stanwyck) works as a barmaid in her father's factory-... read more read more...town saloon where she learns to deal with the unwanted advances of male customers. When her father dies, she moves to New York City with her maid, Chico (Theresa Harris), to become a ruthless gold digger. First she meets office boy Jimmy McCoy (a young John Wayne in an uncharacteristically clean-cut role) who helps her get a job at the Gotham Trust Company. From there, she seduces and discards various men (George Brent, Donald Cook, Henry Kolker) as she sleeps her way to the top of the company. Jealously between the men causes a murder scene, so Lily takes her furs and jewels and moves to Paris with Chico. The production code censors tacked on an ending that featured Lily giving away her money and returning to her home town with Brent. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

3,136 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

12 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Alfred E. Green

Release Date: June 23, 1933

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 5, 2006

Get It:

Stats: 168 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Arthur Hohl and Barbara Stanwyck Theresa Harris and Barbara Stanwyck Arthur Hohl and Barbara Stanwyck Margaret Lindsay, Donald Cook and Barbara Stanwyck Baby Face Robert Barrat and Barbara Stanwyck Baby Face Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Kolker Baby Face
Upload a Photo | View All Baby Face Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (168)

  • ajv2688
    November 15, 2010
    ajv2688
    I really liked this movie, but it does remind you a lot of Red-Headed Woman story wise. I really liked Stanwyck in this movie. Also I loved the ending.
  • groaningbitch
    April 13, 2008
    groaningbitch
    "baby face" was an mighty milestone to set up the stanwyckesque femme fatale image before the fatally classic "double indemnity"...generally..the vital charm of most femme fatales is their gluttonish sensuality and sex apeal...but the allure of stanwyck's femme fatale is based up... read moreon her ruthless toughnes and also her un-willing-ness to comprise..sorta refreshing...it's just like a man who takes what he wants without hesitation...basically BF is an heavily melodrama-driven story even it's worthy being praised for its audacious outrage in a conservative decade. to apply nietzscheistic superman into the "bad girl survives and rules" pattern is indeed feministically offbeat that could be considered a defying moral dynamite at that time. babyface's hostility against man is motivated by her experience of being exploited by men, especially her father. her remarks about her father philandering her was incredically explicit in the concern of the censor in the 30's. the quick wit and dare-devil adventurousness of stanwyck's material girl sorta savor the audience's appreciation over babyface's resourcefulness. but the devilsih brazen fun of the movie is somehow hindered by the moralistic closure. (bad girl is suddenly stricken with the meaning of love.) if interpretating it from a different perspect, perhaps it could be a touching story of an astray female discovering the warmth of bona-fide human affection. only stanwyck's swiftly polished acting talent could carry it off without diverged distortion.
  • binky013
    December 30, 2007
    binky013
    If you see this, make sure you get the DVD that has both versions on it, the uncensored and the censored. Nowadays, I doubt there would be any question about toning down the original; it's tame by today's standards. But there was a time when what we take for granted in movies t... read moreoday was definitely considered dubious content.

    Stanwyck is stunning as the abused child who sleeps her way to the top. Although she may appear to be heartless, it's a Hollywood ending 1930s style.
  • jjnxn
    March 29, 2007
    jjnxn
    wild pre code with a sensuall and hard as nails barbara
  • mjgildea
    January 17, 2007
    mjgildea
    This isn't an amazing movie. You see a Nietsche-fueled floozie sleeping her way to the top and leaving a trail of heartbroken men in her wake. Very racy for it's time I'm sure. But there was something about Stanwyck and her performance that I liked. Happy ending gets pulled out o... read moref it's ass...
  • sweetduckers
    May 18, 2010
    sweetduckers
    I love this film. It was awesome to see this film after seeing movies about oppressed women in society.
  • Sunshineyness
    August 8, 2009
    Sunshineyness
    Ooooh... was Ms. Stanwyck one complicated broad in this one. Lying, scheming, trampy, devious- aka AWESOME. A cheap tacked on morality ending kinda brings the movie down a bit but other than that this was exactly what the pre-code era did best- make women complicated, difficult, ... read moreand less perfect. Them dames didn't really get a chance to be like this again until the 60's. BTW, blink-and-you-miss him first role by John Wayne looking so young you might not even realize it's him.
  • Kellykoop
    March 11, 2008
    Kellykoop
    For its time, it was quite risque, but by today's standards it's pretty tame. One of my favorites of the Pre-Code era and Stanwyck was amazing (as always). If you're going to pick this up, definitely get the TCM release with the uncut version.
  • mkatchan
    February 21, 2008
    mkatchan
    Very good, VERY risque! Barbara Stanwyck sleeps her way to the top in this one...great cautionary tale.
  • Glinda
    January 6, 2008
    Glinda
    Barbara makes this script work. And its enjoyable to see cameos of John Wayne climbing into a different kind of saddle. ;)

View All Baby Face Reviews

Critic Reviews

Ty Burr
April 7, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A fascinatingly conflicted artifact of Depression-era do-me feminism. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
February 3, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

If you've never seen Stanwyck in a pre-Code film, you've never really seen Stanwyck. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Well worth looking at. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 30, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

A typical Depression tale of upward mobility and a good vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck; you can spot John Wayne in a small part. Full Review

Don Willmott
April 24, 2007
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

They can't take their eyes off her. You won't be able to either. Full Review

Ken Hanke
January 24, 2007
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Engagingly shocking to audiences who think of old movies as quaint and innocent. Full Review

John J. Puccio
December 24, 2006
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...an amazing film for any age because it is purely about sex. Not X-rated, pornographic sex, but raw, sensual, unequivocal, unmitigated sex, nevertheless. Full Review

Bryant Frazer
December 6, 2006
Bryant Frazer, Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus

Baby Face is sort of the ultimate pre-Code film, with its repetitive form %u2014 that same come-hither look, that same goggle-eyed assent from the dude on the receiving end %u2014 almost beggaring bel... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 5, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Racy melodrama made before the Production Code. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
February 2, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Inarguably one of the greatest screen actresses of the century, Stanwyck gives one of her strongest performances here, all fire and hunger and pain. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • High Treason
    High Treason (100%)
  • Red-Headed Woman
    Red-Headed Woman (100%)
  • Ten Cents a Dance
    Ten Cents a Dance (0%)

More Movies like Baby Face

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Baby Face : Watch Free on TV

Baby Face Trivia

  • Finish this quote from "Cry Baby" "There's nothing wrong with my face...  Answer »
  • which actress was the 'gerber baby' who's dubbed 'perfect face' is still seen on every jar today?  Answer »
  • I had a Baby Face, kissed the Golden Boy, was called a Ball of Fire, and sailed aboard the Titanic. Who am I?  Answer »
  • WHO PLAYS "BABY FACE" MARTIN IN THE 1937 CLASSIC DEAD END?  Answer »
More Baby Face Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Baby Face. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Baby Face Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Baby Face to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?