Imprint's Pretty Baby (1978) blu ray (1 Viewer)

[Thomas T]

I just finished watching Imprint's blu of Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (1978) from a new 4K scan from Paramount pictures (according to the back cover) and it looks very good and Sven Nykvist's cinematography is served well. There's an excellent 23 minute interview with Brooke Shields (filmed in 2022) about the making of the film, her relationship with Malle, the initial response the film received and much more. Quite frankly in today's environment it could never be made today, at least with an 11 year old actress in the title role. They would probably rewrite it and cast a 16 year old ( or someone who looks 16). And that was also one of the reasons I bought the blu ray because like another controversial film, Ken Russell's The Devils, I doubt it will ever see a U.S. blu ray release (unless Criterion is willing to risk it).

 

[JPCinema]

I just finished watching Imprint's blu of Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (1978) from a new 4K scan from Paramount pictures (according to the back cover) and it looks very good and Sven Nykvist's cinematography is served well. There's an excellent 23 minute interview with Brooke Shields (filmed in 2022) about the making of the film, her relationship with Malle, the initial response the film received and much more. Quite frankly in today's environment it could never be made today, at least with an 11 year old actress in the title role. They would probably rewrite it and cast a 16 year old ( or someone who looks 16). And that was also one of the reasons I bought the blu ray because like another controversial film, Ken Russell's The Devils, I doubt it will ever see a U.S. blu ray release (unless Criterion is willing to risk it).

I also purchased the Imprint blu ray of PRETTY BABY. I agree with Thomas . An excellent transfer! There is also a fascinating audio commentary by Kat Ellinger that includes the life of Belloq and Storyville discussed in great detail.

 

[Dick]

I just finished watching Imprint's blu of Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (1978) from a new 4K scan from Paramount pictures (according to the back cover) and it looks very good and Sven Nykvist's cinematography is served well. There's an excellent 23 minute interview with Brooke Shields (filmed in 2022) about the making of the film, her relationship with Malle, the initial response the film received and much more. Quite frankly in today's environment it could never be made today, at least with an 11 year old actress in the title role. They would probably rewrite it and cast a 16 year old ( or someone who looks 16). And that was also one of the reasons I bought the blu ray because like another controversial film, Ken Russell's The Devils, I doubt it will ever see a U.S. blu ray release (unless Criterion is willing to risk it).

I have this, TESTAMENT and NORTH DALLAS FORTY en route to me. As for the BABY controversy: yeah, well...not all children are born and raised within moral families. I knew a young woman who had been prostituted by her single mom when she was 15. No doubt, many thousands of even younger children have been brought up this way. That the Brooke Shields character does not appear to be especially resistant to her circumstances in this film does not mean that Louis Malle condones that lifestyle, or that the Shields character enjoyed what she had to do. That was the life she knew. Malle is simply presenting a slice of life that most of us and our children (fortunately) do not have to experience.

To have not made the film would have been to kick the problem further down the road. Out of sight, out of mind. Instead, Malles chose to tackle it. But some religious groups and the Moral Police decided to call it out as "Child Pornography" or, at the very least, an immoral view of society, some of them without having even seen the movie! Movies can be killed by hearsay. Thus, perhaps, the low box office receipts.

Shields' mother was at the set every day, apparently, and Brooke herself, having already been a model for years, was not inordinately shy about being naked for the camera. But little enough of her is on view anyway to be a compelling reason to ban it or censor it. What the film does show is a completely non-judgemental take on child prostitution. Most of society does judge it, but somehow the movie was released and is now on Blu-ray. I applaud Paramount's support of this exquisite period piece, even if only by way of a European release.

 

[bujaki]

In my past life, around 1990, I had lunch with Brooke Shields, who was appearing in one of our commercials. Her mother, Terri, never left her side. Shields was extremely gracious, pleasant, and down to earth. And yes, she was a knock out in person.

 

[haineshisway]

If Paramount did a 4K scan they will either stream or license it. They didn't do it so they could license it to Imprint. I'm thinking this may end up on Criterion.