Pretty Baby (1978)

79% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(4,643 ratings)

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 Sarandon), a prostitute working in New Orleans' Storyville district at the turn of the century. When… More 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 Sarandon), 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

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Louis Malle
Written By: Polly Platt
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Apr 5, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Nov 18, 2003

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An inert and boring morality tale that should please neither sensationalists nor puritans.
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, Shadows on the Wall
powerfully disturbing
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
It was shocking in its day, perhaps... but today... [it] can't hope to be as provocative...
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Sexy Sarandon in an early role as the whore mom of child prostitute Brook Shields.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
worthy of strong consideration
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It was once shocking and dull. Now it's just dull.
Frank Wilkins, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Susan Sarandon, as Hattie, is seamless and flawless, not to mention at her shapliest best.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

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… More
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 didn'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.
Wahida K

The red-light district of New Orleans. The story of the women. The photographer. And the prostitute's daughter.
Jason O

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… More
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.
Leigh R

Very sad to see what the girl goes through.
Dimitris S

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… More
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.