After making a series of acclaimed and controversial films in his native France, director Louis Malle made his American debut with Pretty Baby, a controversial mother-daughter melodrama largely set in a brothel.
Grade: B (***1/2* out of *****)
Pretty Baby | |
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The story concerns Hattie (Susan Sarandon), a prostitute working in New Orleans’ Storyville district at the turn of the century. She gets pregnant, 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 attention of the brothel’s customers, but she is still naïve
With Hattie’s consent, Violet’s virginity is auctioned off to the customers. Violet experiences growing pains when she draws the affection of E. J. 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 attracts him, but their relationship becomes problematic, especially after Hattie leaves Violet behind to get married.
Louis Malle followed his American debut with a better picture in 1981, the Oscar-nominated Atlantic City, also starring Susan Sarandon, who was his girlfriend at the time.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Original Score: Jerry Wexler
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The Oscar winner was Joe Renzetti for “The Buddy Holy Story.”
Credits:
MPAA: R
Produced, Directed by Louis Malle
Screenplay by Polly Platt
Story by Polly Platt, Louis Malle
Cinematography Sven Nykvist
Edited by Suzanne Fenn
Music by Ferdinand Morton
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date: April 5, 1978 (US)
Running time: 109 minutes
Box office $5.8 million
DVD: November 18, 2003