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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 10060
Released: November 18, 2003 |
| Our Price: $8.08 |
| Used Price: $8.09 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A prostitutes daughter intrigues a photographer in the red-light district of 1917 new orleans. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/24/2004 Starring: Brooke Shields Barbara Steele Run time: 109 minutes Rating: R Director: Louis Malle
Description of Pretty Baby:
A semi-scandal upon its release in 1978, this Louis Malle film is set in a turn-of-the-century, New Orleans bordello and focuses on a girl named Violet (then-child actress Brooke Shields) whose imminent twelfth birthday signals her "readiness" to become a career prostitute. Typical of Malle, the outwardly forbidden nature of the story and relationships within are morally obscured by the immediate experiences and unqualified urges of the characters. The little heroine brings a distinctly youthful and innocent view to the milieu, and the introduction of a photographer (Keith Carradine)--who eventually marries Violet--in the brothel carries the suggestion that there is art and beauty to be explored there. Susan Sarandon is beguiling as Violet's mother, who seems to unfold in the cameraman's presence. The film moves a little stiffly, a little slowly, possibly from a heavy emphasis on period art direction and Sven Nykvist's moody if gorgeous photography. --Tom Keogh
Pretty Baby Reviews:
Pretty Baby 
2009-09-25 - Pretty BabyIn response to A Customer, I bought Pretty Baby last week and I don't know when or where you purchased your copy, but mine is not censored. Brooke Shields, Who was probably around 11 at the time was shown nude from the waist up and behind when shes locked out of the house and was shown completely nude in one of the photographs Keith Carradine is taking of her. Now I'm no prude, I was only 10 years old when this film came out and had wondered for years what all the fuss was about and I must say that I was a little shocked at the nudity of this small child. The film could not be made today, it would be considered child pornography. After all the fuss that was made about the film Hounddog with Dakota Fanning, Which I thought was a hauntingly sad film told in a tasteful matter I have only one thing to say : watch Pretty Baby if you want to see children exploited on film. Otherwise i thought Pretty Baby was a good movie, but how did they get away with the underage nudity???
modest and tasteful 
2009-08-28 - A very good film for it's time. Too much hype was placed on Brook Shields and her nude scenes. Gives a realistic feeling for what the life of a child of a prostitute may have been like. Her scenes were modest and well filmed. No need to get so alarmed. Brooke's nudity was brief and never sexual in nature. Good film! Not for everyone. Prudes need not view. This is for open-minded adults.
Pretty Baby 
2009-08-11 - "Pretty Baby" is an excellent film that examines a difficult subject with sensitivity and taste. The photograhy is stunning and Brooke Shields is definitely a knockout. Mark Montgomery boboberg@nyc.rr.com
Buy the VHS not the DVD
2009-05-20 - The DVD wide screen version is really bad,they crop out the bottom of scenes! i.e. the famous bathtub scene etc.
Never buy the DVD unless one wishes to see the uncut director's full screen version.
I was surprised to see that the VHS had closed captions,
isn't described on listing.
Louie Was Louie
2009-04-01 - This week I purchased and viewed Louis Malle's movie "Pretty Baby". I have been viewing all of Malle's movies, next his documentaries.
I learned three things from "Pretty Baby":
1. A whore (I hate that name) can run a successful business: Madame Nell The Whorehouse Owner,
2. It is not only OK but good to fall in love with and bed an underage person: Ernest J. Bellocq The Photographer,
3. You endorse the two above positions our Christian Western Culture Do-Gooder-Know -It- All-No-Nothing's with their overwhelming resources, far reaching organizations, and laws will crush you telling you it is you that is arrogant and stupid, enjoy your lifetime sentence and shame.
I once saw Candice Bergen the wife of the Late Louis Malle asked in an interview what she thought about Louis' movie subjects and the views he expressed. Her answer was, "Louie was Louie".
