Themes: Southern Gothic, Self-Destructive Romance, Age Disparity Romance
Main Cast: Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach, Mildred Dunnock, Lonny Chapman
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
Plot
Tennessee Williams' 27 Wagons Full of Cotton was the basis for this steamy sex seriocomedy. Karl Malden stars as the doltish owner of a Southern cotton gin. He is married to luscious teenager Carroll Baker, who steadfastly refuses to sleep with her husband until she reaches the age of 20. Her nickname is "Baby Doll", a cognomen she does her best to live up to by lying in a crib-like bed and sucking her thumb. Enter crafty Sicilian Eli Wallach (who like supporting actor Rip Torn makes his film debut herein), who covets both Malden's wife and business. Malden's jealously sets fire to Wallach's business, compelling Wallach to try to claim Baby Doll as "compensation." Heavily admonished for its supposed filthiness in 1956 (it was condemned by the Legion of Decency, which did more harm to the Legion than to the film), Baby Doll seems a model of decorum today--so much so that it is regularly shown on the straight-laced American Movie Classics cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Highly controversial and condemned by numerous religious organizations when first released, Baby Doll seems hardly worth the uproar when viewed today. While time has dulled its impact somewhat, the film is still an erotic and occasionally powerful, if contrived, study of lust, repression, hypocrisy and desire. Tennessee Williams' screenplay contains some wonderful innuendo-filled dialogue, as well as typical Williams imagery. What's surprising is that the picture is actually a black comedy, rather than the tragedy or melodrama one might expect. Elia Kazan directs with one eye on steamy sleaze and the other on the sheer foolishness of all involved, and gets some impressive performances out of his cast. Carroll Baker is surprisingly good, more than just an actress with looks. She's an off-putting, aggravating, teasing nymphet with something special beyond all of her alluring enticements. Karl Malden does well as her oafish, suffering husband, and Eli Wallach is especially good as the fly in his ointment. The garden swing scene between Wallach and Baker is especially noteworthy. Kenyon Hopkins' jazzy, sultry score adds immeasurably to the film's impact. Dimmed though its steamy luster may be by the passage of time, Baby Doll still makes an impression. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Eades Hogue - Town Marshal; Noah Williamson - Deputy; John Stuart Dudley - Doctor; Will Lester - Sheriff; Madeleine Sherwood - Nurse; Rip Torn - Brick; James Williams - Mayor
