Name: Pretty Baby
Director: Louis Malle
Genre: Drama
Released: 1978-04-05
Duration: 1 h 50 min
Cast: Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon, Frances Faye

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Pretty Baby (1978)

Runtime110 min

RatingR

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In 1917 New Orleans, a 12-year-old girl is raised in a brothel by her prostitute mother.

Critical Reception & Ratings

Pretty Baby (1978), directed by Louis Malle, is a critically acclaimed drama that follows the story of a 12-year-old girl raised in a New Orleans brothel by her prostitute mother. The film received significant awards recognition, including a nomination for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and has a strong audience reception with a rating of 7.2 on IMDb.

Why you might like this:

Directed by the acclaimed Louis Malle, Pretty Baby is a thought-provoking drama that explores the complexities of innocence and sexuality in early 20th century New Orleans. The film features standout performances from Brooke Shields and Susan Sarandon, and its nuanced exploration of its controversial subject matter makes it a must-see for fans of character-driven stories with depth.

About

Pretty Baby is a 1978 American historical drama film directed by Louis Malle, written by Polly Platt, and starring Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, and Susan Sarandon. Set in 1917, it focuses on a 12-year-old girl being raised in a brothel in Storyville, the red-light district of New Orleans, by her prostitute mother. Barbara Steele, Diana Scarwid, and Antonio Fargas appear in supporting roles. The film is based on the true account of a young girl who was sexually exploited by being groomed to engage in prostitution as a child, a theme that was recounted in historian Al Rose's 1974 book Storyville, New Orleans: Being an Authentic Illustrated Account of the Notorious Red-Light District. It is also based on the life of photographer Ernest Bellocq, who photographed various New Orleans prostitutes in the early 20th century. The title, Pretty Baby, is derived from the Tony Jackson song of the same name, which is featured on the film's soundtrack.