Pretty Baby (1978) review

Child prostitution isn't the type of subject most people, especially an American audience, want to see in a film. Ironically it would take a French director, Louis Malle, to make a movie that would deal with this unsavory part of American history.

It's no surprise that the film was maligned when it came out. In a 1978 copy of People magazine they use the phrase "child porn" in connection to the film, which is a myopic view of the movie. It wasn't necessary to show Brooke Shields nude (she was only 12 at the time) but it's not pornographic. Also, I don't think the movie was intended to be a mainstream film - it's an arthouse film and definitely not for everybody's taste. The movie is supposed to be disturbing - that's the whole point. It doesn't glamorous prostitution like "Pretty Woman" - a film that Americans, and young women in particular, loved.

"Pretty Baby" is an uncompromising, unflinching look at the last days of legalized prostitution in 1917 New Orleans in the red light district known as "Storyville". Most people don't know about this notorious place because the government shut it down during WWI in 1917. In the 1940's the once opulent brothels were demolished to make way for housing projects. This is sad considering the historical value of the neighborhood. The district played a part in the development of jazz in it's nascent days with musicians like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong playing in the area.

The film begins with the camera pointed at the doll-like eyes of Violet, played perfectly by Brooke Shields. Her eyes are full of wonder and she's mesmerized as she watches her mother in the attic give birth to her new brother. The film is mostly through the point of view of Violet and how she is affected by growing up in a brothel. I love the scenes where Violet imitates her mother and another prostitute. This is exactly what kids do and how they learn to be adults.

Eyes play an important part in the film. Violet watches her mom have sex with a customer in one scene - this isn't actually shown but we see her expressive eyes right before the act commences. In another scene her virginity is auctioned off to a bunch of older men. The camera flashes faces around the room. Some of the men have a lascivious look and others, like the black piano player, have a look of aversion. Violet is fearful but keeps a facade of composure.

A photographer, Bellocq, befriends Violet and soon develops feelings for her. Bellocq is based on a real photographer who recorded images of the prostitutes in the district. In "Pretty Baby" he's played wonderfully by Keith Carradine. His character is trying to be a protective father-figure to Violet but he is also confused and frustrated for the deeper feelings he has for Violet. This all sounds creepy and salacious but it's handled delicately - you have to keep in mind too that this was a different era.

The cast is exceptional but the best performance may be Frances Faye's portrayal of the the brothel madam Nell. She was partly based on real life madam Lulu White who ran a famous house called "Mahogany Hall" in the district. Nell is an eccentric drug addict who wears too much make up which makes her look grotesque. Her brothel is decadent but also somewhat shabby and grimy. She's tired and doesn't have time for any bullshit. Her character could have easily been some cliched bitchy villain but fortunately she's not. She's not "good" but she's also not coldhearted and vicious. There's a great moment when Nell speaks to Bellocq and accuses him, in a nonjudgemental way, of being in love with Violet. Violet is dancing with a customer in the background and Nell tells Bellocq, "I've seen it a thousand times. I'm old and I know one thing - life is very long." It's a small scene and there is not much dialog but so much is said in that brief moment.

It's impressionistic qualities like this that "Pretty Baby" reminds me of "Days of Heaven", another great film. Also, like "Days of Heaven", which was also released in 1978, the movie shows a snapshot of life in the 1910's through the lens of a young girl. There's also an ephemeral quality to both films that I love. Violet's situation with Bellocq being her father-figure/husband can't last forever and the debauchery of the brothel must end as well.

The last scene is Violet waiting at the train station after being reunited with her mother, who is now a respectable lady married to a wealthy man. They are having their picture taken by Violet's new step-father and she has a haunted, disillusioned look in her eyes that juxtaposes the first scene in the film, when we first see her gaze into the camera. It's as if she finally regretfully realizes the hardships of her childhood.