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Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Frances Faye, Antonio Fargas ... see more see more... , Gerrit Graham , Mae Mercer , Diana Scarwid , Barbara Steele , Mathew Douglas Anton , Seret Scott , Cheryl Markowitz , Susan Manskey , Laura Zimmerman , Miz Mary , Don Hood , Don K. Lutenbacher , Pat Perkins , Matthew Anton

After making a series of acclaimed and controversial films in his native France, director Louis Malle made his American debut with this disturbing but visually beautiful story about Hattie (Susan Sara... read more read more...ndon), a prostitute working in New Orleans' Storyville district at the turn of the century. When Hattie becomes pregnant, she opts to keep her baby and gives birth to a daughter named Violet, raising her in the brothel where she continues to work. Twelve years later, Violet (Brooke Shields) is old enough to attract the attentions of the brothel's customers, but emotionally has one foot in the adult world of her surroundings and the other in the naïveté of childhood. With Hattie's consent, Violet's virginity is auctioned off to the customers of the house; but for Violet, the pull between childhood and adulthood becomes most clear -- and most painful -- when she draws the affections of Bellocq (Keith Carradine), a photographer who has been working on a photo series about Storyville prostitutes. Violet's blend of childlike innocence and adult sensuality is profoundly attractive to him, but their relationship quickly becomes problematic, especially when Hattie leaves Violet behind to get married. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

4,642 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Louis Malle

Release Date: April 5, 1978

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DVD Release Date: November 18, 2003

Stats: 215 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (215)

  • MeetMeinMontauk
    December 7, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    One of those things I had to see. And I must say that if it didn't make you slightly sick, you need therapy.
    Anyway, this is my second (I think) Malle film and something tells me I liked the other one better. The loonngg reaction shots were questionable only because the actor did... read moren't actually emote more, just blank stare for the most part. But kudos to not only shields and her parents, but Malle for doing it. Having a 12 year old naked would get most people laughed out on their ass.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 13, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    The red-light district of New Orleans. The story of the women. The photographer. And the prostitute's daughter.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I'd always heard of this movie and the controversy surrounding it since it showed Brooke Shields naked. I wish now that I hadn't watched it. She's too young to think anything like that about, yes, but even then it's just a boring movie and I saw little redeeming value in it.
  • dreamfaeries
    September 2, 2007
    dreamfaeries
    Very sad to see what the girl goes through.
  • jimbotender
    August 14, 2008
    jimbotender
    Excluding the acting "skills" of miss Shields even as a child,Pretty Baby hides a deep melancholy Malle would continue exploring from Atlantic City's unfullfilling desires to Damage's forbidden coitus.A great underrated film with a far-fetched emotion of sexual responsibility.
  • jackass001
    November 19, 2011
    jackass001
    this is wonderful and the most very romance drama movie (not much an genre drama movie fan) with an beautiful 12 years old actress brooke shields got wonderful performance movie with something relationship daughter and mother who brilliant performance by susan sarandon living bro... read morethel in 1917 new orleans, louisiana and french film director by louis malle who done direct this movie (this is my first time seen by louis malle's movie). there include young brooke shields' nude in few scene and who affair and later on getting married with older photographer named bellocq performance by keith carradine. im so surprise violet (brooke shields) who 12 year old and bellocq is getting married but it only in the movie anyway and brooke shields and susan sarandon are good performance btw quite good drama film by louis malle.
  • KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    June 8, 2011
    KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    Malle's arty and picturesque New Orleans whore house movie. Mainly produced to show Brooke Shields naked butt, however it's better than it sounds.
  • StaisilD
    April 14, 2008
    StaisilD
    Pretty Baby" is one of his most beautiful achievements. Telling the story of a lonely photographer's obsession with a precocious twelve-year old prostitute named Violet(Brooke Shields) in New Orleans early in the century. Shields hits all the right notes here. She goes from sexy ... read moreand alluring, to childish and innocent with a snobbish pout. She is charmingly free-spirited from being raised in a brothel, and often appears totally naked in front of strange men many times her age. Prostitution is all that she knows, and Malle does not shy away from it. Pretty Baby, by Louis Malle raises a myriad of questions when viewed almost thirty years after its creation. "Niggling" questions about the appropriateness of the film itself, the topic of child prostitution, the use of young actresses and actors, the film's moral detachment, whether is should have been made or could be made again all flitted through my mind as I soaked in the beauty of the images. I was also captivated by the sub themes of race, class, and gender inequity were so subtly and effectively presented. Sven Nykvist's cinematography make it, for me, one of the most beautiful to look at films ever made. I love to see beautifully filmed movies and Pretty Baby is certainly that. Malle filmed it in hot and humid Louisiana and Mississippi but his focus on the visuals and his detachment from the characters and their situations give it a coolness and richness which were able to quiet questions in my mind.
  • aprilpope1
    January 19, 2008
    aprilpope1
    I first seen this movie when I was 8 years old. This movie is as close to child porn as it gets. Especially as an adult watching it, I can't believe it was made.
  • carolynmj19774
    September 1, 2007
    carolynmj19774
    I was SOOOOO shocked by this movie. NUDITY!!!! Did Brooke Shield's parents sign a waver so she could run around nude. Its like a porno for people who like to watch little kids naked and whores. OH MY GOSH. Brooke Shields was amazing in this movie. I mean her acting ability. But i... read morets like her innocence was taken away with this movie. Gees, I can't believe the stuff they let her do and say in this movie. I don't know what kind of parents she had! GEES!

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
November 1, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

An inert and boring morality tale that should please neither sensationalists nor puritans. Full Review

Dan Fienberg
September 8, 2005
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com

While it oozes with atmosphere and Sarandon is superb, the story never comes together and Malle's treatment of Shields is kinda creepy.

Rich Cline
April 29, 2005
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

powerfully disturbing

MaryAnn Johanson
August 8, 2004
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

It was shocking in its day, perhaps... but today... [it] can't hope to be as provocative... Full Review

Lori Hoffman
January 31, 2004
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

Sexy Sarandon in an early role as the whore mom of child prostitute Brook Shields.

Christopher Null
November 14, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

worthy of strong consideration Full Review

Ken Hanke
November 5, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It was once shocking and dull. Now it's just dull.

Frank Wilkins
July 5, 2003
Frank Wilkins, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Susan Sarandon, as Hattie, is seamless and flawless, not to mention at her shapliest best. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Fanny: Violet, you should touch him down there, you know, like it's accidental.
    • Violet: I know what to do. Leave me alone.
    • Hattie: Well, don't act like you know it all. You won't even get a tip that way.
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Pretty Baby Trivia

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