Pretty Baby

Movie

1978

1h 50m

English

Drama

User Score:

6.4

Critic Score:

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Pretty Baby

Movie

1978

1h 50m

English

Drama

Play Trailer

Free on Hoopla

Hattie, a New Orleans prostitute, meets a photographer named Bellocq at her brothel one night and, after he photographs her, he befriends her 12-year-old daughter, Violet. When Violet is brought on as a working girl by her mother's madam and Hattie skips town to get married, Violet quickly loses her innocence and focuses on reuniting with Bellocq. But a life with Bellocq is compromised for Violet after her mother returns to town.

WATCHMODE

6.4

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

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Available in 5 other countries.

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Cast

Violet

Bellocq

Hattie

Nell

Professor

Red Top

Frieda

Josephine

Highpockets

Alfred Fuller

Flora

Gussie

Fanny

Agnes

Odette

Mama Mosebery

Ola Mae

Nonny

Justine

Antonia

Harry

Fanny's Customer

Naval Officer

Hattie's Customer

Senator

Directed By: Louis Malle

Written By: Polly Platt (Screenplay), Louis Malle (Story)

Featured Comments/Tips

moonkodi says...

7 years ago

Decent drama and controversial for obvious reason. I can see this story holding a lot of truth, as kids become the product of their environment and the realism is high. The setting looks really good. Pushed to give it a 6 as I didn't really find it to my taste but its well made.

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guzzlima says...

a month ago

Extremely controversial and disturbing, it takes an uncomfortable approach by portraying the moments of a brothel from the perspective of Violet, played by Brooke Shields at the age of 12. The film mixes childlike innocence with a rhythm that evokes theatrical elements, contrasting with the crudeness of the predatory and sexualized gaze of the men around the protagonist, and this contrast provokes a constant feeling of discomfort. The story itself lacks development, limited to isolated moments that give the impression of moving around without moving forward. The excessive focus on the discomfort generated by the contrast between harassment and innocence seems more interested in shocking than in building a cohesive narrative.

Like - Dislike - Comment - 00 0

m3Xtr3m343V3r says...

a month ago

The only one that has been controversial enough for the portrayal of "Brooke Shields" as a child prostitute shown fully nude.

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BaconBitsServerAge says...

4 months ago

Compelling look at a slice of life at the end of an era in a particularly unique place and time in history, yet lacking in the depth and complexity a story like this really requires. I really liked Frances Faye as the old madam and would have liked to see her have a reason to sing. Despite the shallow writing, Brook Shields' performance really is well above her age and she is really amazing in her portrayal. While the subject matter is disturbing, there is a realism to the family-like atmosphere of the brothel that is as cozy as she is innocent in her mimicking of the way whores charm men.

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Featured User Reviews

GenerationofSwine

2 years ago

So.... why one star? Because, honestly, it's boring. It kind of does to New Orleans' red-light district what Reds did to John Reed.... sucked all the excitement out of the story in an effort to make it artistic.

It's well acted, but it's weak on plot, weak on story, weak on entertainment.... but, More

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