A preteen girl lives as a prostitute in New Orleans in 1917.A preteen girl lives as a prostitute in New Orleans in 1917.A preteen girl lives as a prostitute in New Orleans in 1917.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 6 nominations total
Pat Pierre Perkins
- Ola Mae
- (as Pat Perkins)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaYears after Brooke Shields starred in the film, she studied French Literature at Princeton University. Her 1987 senior thesis, written during her final year, was entitled "The Initiation: From Innocence to Experience: The Pre-Adolescent/Adolescent Journey in the Films of Louis Malle, Pretty Baby (1978) and Lacombe, Lucien (1974)," meaning she wrote about a film in which she starred.
- GoofsIn one scene, Violet holds a plastic doll as opposed to a composite one. Plastic dolls weren't available until the late 1940s.
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits include a card that states, "With our gratitude for the priceless music of FERDINAND "JELLY ROLL" MORTON."
- Alternate versionsAgainst his own wishes UK censor James Ferman was forced to make minor edits to the original cinema version under the 1978 Protection of Children Act, and pubic hair was optically airbrushed onto a scene where Brooke Shields is sitting with her legs slightly spread so that 'the actual cleft was not visible'. A further cut was also made to remove a very brief shot of her standing up in a bath. The edits were fully waived for the 1987 video release.
- ConnectionsEdited into Chop Suey (2001)
- SoundtracksTiger Rag
(uncredited)
Written by Edwin B. Edwards, Nick LaRocca, Tony Sbarbaro, Henry Ragas and Larry Shields
Performed by Antonio Fargas
Featured review
Pretty Baby is a glimpse into the decadence of New Orleans' history
How sad this movie was, for all of the characters involved. I thought Brooke Shields was excellent as a pre-pubescent nymphette, as Nabakov would say. And I think her acting verged on the almost absurd because she was caught somewhere between childhood and adulthood. Poor Violet, caught tragically between two worlds. But this film and its nudity, were far from disturbing. Louis Malle made the whole piece a sort of decadent, decaying artwork, which is exactly what New Orleans is. You can almost smell and touch the oak trees and plants that are overtaking Bellocq's house. I think that the key to this film is that one must watch it objectively instead of subjectively. The movie is a reflection of the Storyville era of New Orleans. If Malle had covered Shields, it would have been like Michelangelo being forced to cover his Sybils in the chapel; Something beautiful and poignant would have been lost. Watch this movie for a glimpse into the past of New Orleans, but don't forget to read the back of the box before you rent. It IS about prostitution.
helpful•41
- govinda8
- Aug 10, 2000
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,786,368
- Gross worldwide
- $5,786,368
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