Pretty Baby ** (1978, Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon, Frances Faye, Antonio Fargas, Gerrit Graham, Mae Mercer, Diana Scarwid, Barbara Steele) – Classic Movie Review 8632

Louis Malle’s highly disturbing and controversial American debut with the 1978 Pretty Baby caused quite a few shock waves with its World War One story set in 1917 about a 12-year-old girl Violet (Brooke Shields), raised in the New Orleans bordello where her mom Hattie (Susan Sarandon) works, and the girl’s marriage to a photographer Ernest J Bellocq (Keith Carradine) in his late thirties.

If it was controversial in 1978, it would sure be a lot more controversial now. On the plus side, this is an intelligent, non-exploitative discussion of a tricky subject, Shields is fine in a difficult role as a child prostitute, Sarandon adds class, and the film looks extremely attractive, thanks to Sven Nykvist’s dazzling photography.

But more complexity to the plot and greater oomph in Carradine’s performance would help a lot.

The story is by Polly Platt and Louis Malle, with Polly Platt writing the screenplay. Malle was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (1978), but had to be content with the Technical Grand Prize. Jerry Wexler (music adaptor / music supervisor) was Oscar nominated for Best Original Song Score. Ferdinand ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton is the composer of additional music.

Also in the cast are Frances Faye, Antonio Fargas, Gerrit Graham, Mae Mercer, Diana Scarwid, Barbara Steele, Matthew Anton, Seret Scott, Cheryl Markowitz, Susan Manskey, Laura Zimmerman, Miz Mary, Don Hood, Pat Perkins, Von Eric Thomas, Sasha Holliday, Lisa Shames and Henry Braden.

Sarandon reappeared in Malle’s 1980 Atlantic City.

UK censor James Ferman was forced to make minor edits to the original cinema version under the 1978 Protection of Children Act. The edits were restored for the 1987 video release.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8632

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