Pretty Baby (1978)

Director:

Louis Malle

Writers:

Polly Platt (story)
Polly Platt (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 April 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

In 1917, in the red-light district of New Orleans, they called her "Pretty Baby"

Plot:

A pre-teen girl grows up in a house of prostitution in the Storyville section of New Orleans in 1917.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitution | Virginity | Prostitute | Auction | Photographer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Brooke Shields	...	Violet
Keith Carradine	...	Bellocq
Susan Sarandon	...	Hattie
Frances Faye	...	Nell
Antonio Fargas	...	Professor
Matthew Anton	...	Red Top
Diana Scarwid	...	Frieda
Barbara Steele	...	Josephine
Seret Scott	...	Flora
Cheryl Markowitz	...	Gussie
Susan Manskey	...	Fanny
Laura Zimmerman	...	Agnes
Miz Mary	...	Odette
Gerrit Graham	...	Highpockets
Mae Mercer	...	Mama Mosebery

Also Known As:

La petite (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Niña bonita (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
Güzel bebek (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
I kouklitsa tis Neas Orleanis (Greece) [el]
La pequeña (Spain) [es]
Pretty Baby (Finland) [fi]
Pretty Baby (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 (1988) | Finland:K-18 (1978) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:18 | France:-16 | Norway:18 (1978) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Rob Reiner auditioned for the role of Bellocq.

Quotes:

Nell: Sold to the man with the four hundred dollars cash.
Frieda: [to Violet] Do not give him any argument.
Violet's First Customer: Do you want some whiskey?
[He hands Violet a glass of whiskey. She drinks it all]
Violet's First Customer: Well, Jesus, I didn't mean the whole damn thing.
Violet: I'm glad it's you.
Violet's First Customer: Why are you glad it's me?
Violet: Well, you look nice, and you have a nice chest. I can feel the steam inside me right through my dress.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Miss Naomi's Erotic Art/Ernest Bellocq/Pornstar Pets (#7.16)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Pretty Baby

Bravo Louis Malle

Very disturbing reality break. Child prostitution was prevalent in North America well into the early 20th century. This gives a good insight into demise of many children during this period. We were totally devoid of child protection agencies. Although many narrow minded artistically challenged people will label this movie as child pornography it is not. There is no suggestion of condoning or promoting of such. Louis Malle used a combination of shock and graphically disturbing scenes to get his message across. To have censored this movie would have been a throw back to the dark ages for artistic freedom. Although the acting leaves something to be desired it is a must watch for those wanting to see a dramatization of the hopelessness of the lives of children in the early Southern States.