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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 6921
Released: November 18, 2003 |
| Our Price: $7.92 |
| Used Price: $6.96 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
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:
Brooke's forgotten Lolita role 
2008-07-24 - Girl child stars have been used as either virginal beings or Lolita. Brooke Shield's mom knew what to use with Brooke when she was just such a child star. While these days we see Lolita more in the music visual genre (ex. Britney Spears), Brooke was one of the sexiest young girls ever to grace the silver screen. While more famous for the nearly nude scenes in Blue Lagoon, this was a movie that has since fallen into the slush pile but had her reputation solidified as Lolita.
Brooke is a twelve year old girl whose mother, Susan Sarandon, runs a brothel in New Orleans around the turn of the twentieth century. As Brooke is turning twelve, she is ready to be sold as a baby prostitute in her mother's brothel. Brooke rarely dresses in a provacative way, she wears make up with the terrible heavy hand that only a twelve year old can apply to her own face. She's cute, sweet, innocent, and childlike. What man wouldn't bid on her virginity? *Shudder*
It was more of the thought that things like this really happen in the world that made us think. And to think that Brooke herself was being sold to the highest bidder to star in a movie about this is what made us cluck our tongues. What a horror story.
But it worked for Brooke and her mom. Unlike her counterpart child stars who would fall apart from the stereotypical child star fast life, Brooke grew up to be a well adjusted, well educated, and very successful adult. She is the exception, but there are hundreds of others out there who are not so lucky, really living this hideous life. That's the real horror story.
I love you once. I love you twice. I love you more than beans and rice!
2008-04-18 - I like this movie and I have seen this countless of times. 'Pretty Baby' is a testament to the fact that the 70's were vastly more liberated than our times, at least when it comes to sexuality. In here pretty baby is twelve-year-old Violet, played by Brooke Shields. Violet has grown in the environment of a circa World War I whorehouse in New Orleans, where her mother Hattie (Susan Sarandon) practices the oldest of professions. She still acts like a child, one who likes to chase lizards in the underbrush and who throws tantrums when she doesn't get her way. When her mother leaves the brothel to start a respectable life, Violet remains and allows her virginity to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. She finds herself drawn to a photographer, Bellocq, who is taking portraits of Storyville prostitutes. Realizing that she is love, the young Violet declares her intention to marry Bellocq...
Brook performance literally carries this movie. Yes, the movie is quite explicit about the business of prostitution during that time, but it is never exploited and gives one the sense of how it really was, and what might happen to children born into prostitution. Malle's dispassionate take on all of this outraged viewers a quarter-century ago, but it all seems rather tame today. Perhaps too tame.........
Malle's restraint is so great at times that one wishes he'd pushed the envelope even more. But he got an amazing performance out of Shields, one that she never topped in her career as an actress -- Violet is a mesmerizing combination of innocent child and sly young woman, and that we never see her as a victim is to both her credit and Malle's. Some of the other acting in the film is less impressive, especially Frances Faye as the brothel's elderly owner, Nell -- she's simply horrible, turning in one of the worst performances seen outside of early John Waters' movies. Still, it's a beautiful movie. Its slow pace may frustrate some viewers, but 'Pretty Baby' is a gorgeous, emotionally stunning experience.
Visually appealing but lacks depth. 
2008-03-28 - Pretty Baby starring Susan Sarandon could've been a great little art film but rather it comes off pretentious and off-kiltered. Brooke Shields sure was a "pretty baby" back then and although her fragile but strong-willed performance is good, you just feel kinda like a prevert watching such a young girl portraying a child prostitute. Keith Carradine creeps me out and the film is dated now. Pretty Baby is intriguing but not brilliant.
Pretty Baby 
2007-12-23 - Was hoping for a bit more with some pretty well know actor's. Cinamatography was excellent, sound was quite well done, but the story line definitely lacked spark.
Not recommended.
pretty baby... 
2007-10-22 - i give this movie a 5 just because i felt "empathy" throughout the whole movie. when it finished i felt drained.
