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Directed by Elia Kazan
The script for Baby Doll was created from two of Tennessee Williams' short works, "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" and "The Unsatisfactory Supper." Elia Kazan recalled that Williams was lukewarm about the project until he saw Carroll Baker—a stunning young actress from the Actors Studio—read for the part (Baker claimed that Williams initially wanted Marilyn Monroe for the role).
The story centers on Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), the middle-aged owner of a dilapidated cotton gin, and his young bride, Baby Doll, whose dying father consented to the marriage with the provision that Archie Lee not deflower the girl until she reaches the age of 20, and that he adequately provide for her. But on the eve of her 20th birthday, repo men appear at the crumbling Meighan mansion to dispossess Archie Lee of his furniture, dashing his hopes of consummating the marriage. In a desperate act he burns down the gin of his enterprising competitor, Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach). As retaliation, the smooth-talking Vacarro engages Baby Doll in a tense game of manipulation and seduction.
Baby Doll was virulently attacked by both the Catholic Church's Legion of Decency and by some critics: Time magazine called it "just possibly the dirtiest American-made motion picture that has ever been legally exhibited." The risque publicity campaign, which included a block-long billboard in Times Square featuring Baker spilling out of a crib while sucking her thumb, added to the frenzy.
—Mimi Brody
Warner Bros. Based on the plays "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" and "The Unsatisfactory Supper" by Tennessee Williams. Screenwriter: Tennessee Williams. Cinematographer: Boris Kaufman. Editor: Gene Milford. Cast: Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach, Mildred Dunnock.
35mm, 114 min.
Preserved in cooperation with Warner Bros. from the 35mm acetate original picture and soundtrack negatives and from 35mm acetate fine grain master positive materials.
Laboratory services by YCM Laboratories, Audio Mechanics, Chace Audio, OJ Audio.
Special thanks to: Mrs. Elia Kazan, Ned Price, Bill Rush.
