Baby Doll (1956)

 Ahead of its time
Baby Doll is definitely a classic. Tennessee Williams was famous for his grittiness and slightly-exaggerated reality; Baby Doll is one of the best of its genre. The acting is excellent and the ambiance is perfect for what Williams was trying to create. I like color, but black-and-white fits the mood of this movie, which is almost film noir. It's a must-see. May 8, 2008

 They do not make movies like this any more
Often times when people think of director Elia Kazan, they think of his professional movie greats and his personal blunders during McCarthy era. This is the first film of his I saw on DVD and I was smitten by it from the start. Everything about this film is perfection: sceenplay prepared after Tennessee Williams' play, cast, direction. I remember seeing actor Karl Malden as older man in a movies of my childhood and it is just amazing to see him in a fine role of Archie in this film during her younger years as an actor. And then, of course, the infamous part of the film on the swing. I recall reading about it year after year before Oscar nominations, when film critics bring up the most scandalous moments in the american film and this one inevitably shows up repeatedly in their honorable mentions. I will not re-tell the story in this film. What I will say is that story is unique and things that are not said, done or seen on the screen is what drives viewers to this film. Although this film is made after a play, this kind of production could never be produced in the theatre - and that is the best thing about the movie. While people are fascnated about the actrss portraying character of a Baby Doll, I was fascinated by the actor Eli Wallach who gave his performance of a lifetime in this film. From reading other reviews, it is a thrill to learn that Mr. Wallach considers this film to be one of his favorite ones in his career. You MUST see this movie. It has smartness, humor and beauty of language in it and the sexual tension like the one portrayed in this film, has never been filmed before or since. This film is Elia Kazan's masterpiece. February 20, 2008

 Baby Doll
Notorious in its time as the filthiest picture ever made, this steamy, depraved black comedy from the poison pen of Southern playwright Tennessee Williams was helmed by Elia Kazan ("A Streetcar Named Desire") and photographed in crisp, stark black-and-white by lensman Boris Kaufman. Malden's disturbing portrayal of cuckold-to-be Archie is a far cry from his later TV stint on "Streets of San Francisco." But see it for a wonderfully sleazy Wallach (in his film debut) and the Oscar-nominated Baker, who couldn't be better as manipulative coquette Baby Doll, especially in a porch-swing scene with the lusty Silva. One of Kazan's trashiest efforts--in the best sense. June 25, 2007

 More Like Barbie Doll
This film is more notable for it's notoriety at the time of it's release than any aesthetic qualities. Tennessee William's story is meandering and unbelievably talky. The film's so-called eroticism isn't likely to give you goose pimples. Carroll Baker's performance in the title role can be compared to wood. The film's virtues would be some good camera-work and Southern ambience as well as outstanding performances by Karl Malden as Baby Doll's cuckolded husband and Eli Wallach as Malden's business rival. Not a complete waste of time but not worthy of it's reputation. February 25, 2007

 BABY DOLLLLLL!!!!!
I recently watched this steamy tale of two Southern rivals and a sensuous 19-year-old virgin, as one of the dvds in the Tennessee Williams Collection box set, and I must say it still packs a punch! Archie Lee Meighan, (perfectly cast and played by Karl Malden, see him as Vivian Leigh's sympathetic beau in "A Streetcar Named Desire") is the middle-aged cotton gin owner, who made a deal with his now deceased father-in-law, that he would not consummate the marriage to his daughter until her 20th birthday. Oddly named Baby Doll, (Carroll Baker's performance was nominated for an Academy award) is constantly reminding her husband of his "old age" and that she'll move out of the old Southern mansion, which is literally falling down around them, and move to town, if he tries touching her again. But it's when rival cotton gin owner Silva Vaccaro (great performance by Eli Wallach) puts Archie and his fellow cotton gin workers out of business and into debt, by successfully operating his Cotton Gin Syndicate.

Archie is so infuriated and in fear of losing his child bride, due to his indebtedness they have lost all of their furniture, and so he goes and sets fire to Vaccaro's cotton gin. Suspecting Archie of burning his gin down, and getting no help from the Mississippi police or towns people, Vaccaro takes an erotic form of Sicilian vengeance. Tennessee Williams "Baby Doll" is filmed in glorious black & white and the sound is crisp and clear. Karl Malden calling out "Baby Dollllll!!" at the top of his lungs as he waits for her to come to the car and later at the end of the picture, are quiet comical and shows how unstable Malden's character, Archie, is becoming.

I recommend buying this dvd as part of the "Tennessee Williams Film Collection" box set. Even though it's reached Hollywood classic status and is very entertaining, it's not one of my personal favorites. "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof," "Sweet Bird of Youth," and "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone," are the jewels of this collection. It's very nice to have "Baby Doll" and "The Night of the Iguana" as part of the box set and to add to my dvd collection. I mainly like this movie for Carroll Baker's performance, she first caught my attention as Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson's daughter in the modern day western classic, "Giant" (1956) and as the almost-bride of dashing Gregory Peck in "The Big Country." Tennessee Williams fans of steamy Southern dramas should check out the Joanne Woodward - Paul Newman sizzler, "The Long, Hot Summer," (1958) which I thought was a Tennessee Williams movie for years! This one really sizzles and should not be missed.
December 20, 2006

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