Pretty Baby

"The image of an adult world seen through a child's eyes."

Apr 5 1978 R 1h 50m
Drama

Hattie, a New Orleans prostitute, meets a photographer named Bellocq at her brothel one night and, after he photographs her, he befriends her 12-year-old daughter, Violet. When Violet is brought on as a working girl by her mother's madam and Hattie skips town to get married, Violet quickly loses her innocence and focuses on reuniting with Bellocq. But a life with Bellocq is compromised for Violet after her mother returns to town.

Plot

In 1917, in the red light district Storyville, New Orleans, the prostitute Hattie lives with her twelve year-old daughter Violet in the fancy brothel of Madame Nell, where she works. Photographer Ernest J. Bellocq has an attraction to Hallie and Violet and he is an habitué of the whorehouse. One day, Madame Nell auctions Violet's virginity and the winner pays the fortune of US$ 400 to spend the night with the girl. Then Hattie marries a wealthy client and moves to Saint Louis, leaving Violet in the brothel alone. Violet decides to marry Bellocq and she moves to his house. Until the day that Hattie, who has overcome her past, comes to Bellocq's house with the intention to take Violet with her.

Written by

Polly Platt, Louis Malle

Directed by

Louis Malle

Cast

Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Paramount

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 6 nominations total

Trailers
Pretty Baby (1978) 35MM Trailer
Scores
# of Votes
13,926
Average Rating
6.5 out of 10
Metascore
66
Popularity
NA