Pretty Baby
In 1917 New Orleans, a 12-year-old girl is raised in a brothel by her prostitute mother.
Critics Sentiment
Violet demonstrates her fascination with photography and adult world
Violet's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder
The film drops sharply from Violet's charming precociousness to the deeply disturbing virginity auction sequence, representing a 3.1 point decline.
Pretty Baby generates strong reactions that shift dramatically across its runtime, opening with praised atmospheric world-building and Brooke Shields' compelling performance before plunging into its most controversial and disturbing content around the virginity auction. The film recovers somewhat in its final act with the wedding and ending sequence, though many reviewers noted the second half felt less focused than the atmospheric first half.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 29
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
Gerrit Graham
Highpockets
Don Hood
Alfred Fuller
Seret Scott
Flora
Cheryl Markowitz
Gussie
Susan Manskey
Fanny
Laura Zimmerman
Agnes
Miz Mary
Odette
Mae Mercer
Mama Mosebery
Pat Perkins
Ola Mae
Von Eric Thomas
Nonny
Sasha Holliday
Justine
Lisa Shames
Antonia
Crew
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