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Pretty Baby (1978)

Directed by Louis Malle · Cinematography by Sven Nykvist

R110 min60 frames

Drama

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

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Stills, screencaps & shots from Pretty Baby

16 of 60 frames — the full set is searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, color and mood with a free account.

Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A dimly lit room is filled with hanging ornate costumes and colorful feathers. A bearded man in a waistcoat…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A group of men in formal attire attend an indoor social event. The central figure looks forward while…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A partially enclosed wooden porch with an open doorway leads to a dark interior. A woman wearing a hat and…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: closeup — A close-up view shows a person resting their head on a textured cream-colored pillow. The subject lies…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: fullbody — A turn-of-the-century bedroom features patterned wallpaper, a wooden bed, and a small lace-covered table.…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: closeup — A woman stands before a dark patterned curtain with intricate gold and floral designs. She holds both…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: closeup — A dimly lit interior space features a young woman centered in the frame. She stares forward while her long…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A dark, wood-framed doorway opens into a dimly lit room with soft curtains hanging. A young girl sits on…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: closeup — A young girl with wavy brown hair looks into a reflective glass surface. She holds a small round powder…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — An ornate bedroom features a draped canopy bed with lace curtains and layered fabrics. An elderly woman…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: closeup — A dimly lit interior space features a man positioned before a blurred lamp. He looks forward with a steady…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: fullbody — A screened porch with a man at a table and a young woman outside. She sits on the wooden steps feeding…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A dimly lit bedroom features ornate patterned wallpaper, sheer curtains, and a cluttered bed. A man in a…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: wide — A dark wooden staircase landing features a large circular stained glass window above. A young girl with curly…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: medium — A teenage girl stands outdoors with a river and green forest in the background. She faces the camera…Pretty Baby (1978) movie still: fullbody — A man holding a suitcase stands on a residential porch facing a doorway. A woman stands in the doorway…
Pretty Baby (1978) — © Paramount Pictures

Pretty Baby — official trailer

What is Pretty Baby about?

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

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 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.

Second paragraph from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where can you watch Pretty Baby?

US availability for Pretty Baby (1978). Data by JustWatch, listings on TMDB. Availability changes — check the provider for current listings.

Who stars in Pretty Baby?

Who made Pretty Baby?

What does the cinematography of Pretty Baby look like?

Sampled across 60 frames, the coverage of Pretty Baby leans on medium shots (58% of the sample) and close-ups (20%). Cinematographer Sven Nykvist keeps 57% of it in soft, naturalistic light. Vintage glass shapes the frame. Focus stays shallow in 82% of the frames, isolating subjects from their surroundings.

What is the color palette of Pretty Baby?

The dominant colors across the sampled frames of Pretty Baby (1978) are #382f29, #d0b293, #261912, #4a362a, #35271c, #14100d — measured from the per-frame color data FrameThrower extracts for every film.

  • #382f29
  • #d0b293
  • #261912
  • #4a362a
  • #35271c
  • #14100d

See the full Pretty Baby colour palette — every hex with its share, plus warmth, saturation and luminance.

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Techniques in this film

More films by Louis Malle

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