IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
An immature child bride holds her anxious husband at bay while flirting with an amorous Sicilian farmer.An immature child bride holds her anxious husband at bay while flirting with an amorous Sicilian farmer.An immature child bride holds her anxious husband at bay while flirting with an amorous Sicilian farmer.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writer
- Tennessee Williams(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writer
- Tennessee Williams(screenplay)
- Stars
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 3 wins & 13 nominations total
Videos1
R.G. Armstrong
- Townsman Sidas Townsman Sid
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Rip Torn
- The Dentistas The Dentist
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- Tennessee Williams(screenplay) (based upon his one act play, "Twenty Seven Wagons Full of Cotton")
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Living in Tiger Tail County, Mississippi, middle-aged Archie Lee Meighan and 19-year-old "Baby Doll" Meighan née McCargo have been married for close to two years. Their marriage is not based on love, but on each getting what they want from the other. Their marriage agreement has them consummating their marriage on her 20th birthday, which is in three days, and she's not looking forward to it. But she does taunt him and other men with her overt "baby doll" sexuality, fostering the baby-doll aspect by sleeping in a crib in their house's nursery. Baby Doll's now-deceased father allowed the marriage on the stipulation that Archie Lee provide Baby Doll financial security as displayed by the most resplendent house in the south. They currently live in a dilapidated mansion with her Aunt Rose Comfort, and although Archie Lee is making some renovations on it, he no longer has the financial means to make it what Baby Doll wants as his cotton-ginning competitor, the recently-arrived Sicilian Silva Vacarro who runs the cotton plantation syndicate, has effectively put him and many others in the area out of business. The Meighans' fortunes could change after Vacarro's cotton gin burns down in a case of arson. Vacarro is certain Archie Lee is the arsonist. After meeting the Meighans and learning more about their marriage, Vacarro believes the way to get what he wants is through Baby Doll. This action begins the three-way battle of wills among Vacarro, Archie Lee, and Baby Doll. —Huggo
- Taglines
- Her role is raw electricity! Her portrayal is a sensation! CARROLL BAKER
- Genres
- Certificate
- Approved
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaFeature film debut of Eli Wallach.
- GoofsAfter Silva bursts through the door in the attic, Baby Doll is shown running from him with her blanket wrapped around her. The instant before she falls on to the attic beam, she removes the blanket, and holds it in her left hand. In the very next shot, after she has fallen, the blanket is wrapped around her body once again.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Elia Kazan: An Outsider (1982)
Top review
We're definitely not in Kansas anymore!
The crumbling ruins of a deep south plantation, circa 1956. Karl Malden running through empty rooms, yelling "BayBee DOLLLLL!" The dementia-ridden elderly aunt forgetting to turn on the stove before cooking the greens. The old guys lounging around the yard, laughing and watching Malden's frenzied activities like it's must-see TV. Kooky gorgeous Baby Doll sucking her thumb, sleeping in her crib. And Eli Wallach: ah, what a specimen. He's intense, he's irresistible. He's relentlessly "handsy" like a high school boy on a date; he never, ever, for a moment, lets up. It's impossible to take your eyes off of him.
This movie is perplexing and wonderful, it really is more of a place and an atmosphere than a story. Twisted, and in a good way. The characters are as wild and inexplicable as any you've seen in a David Lynch movie. Your jaw will drop, you'll laugh out loud, and the whole weird place just gets better each time you watch it.
This movie is perplexing and wonderful, it really is more of a place and an atmosphere than a story. Twisted, and in a good way. The characters are as wild and inexplicable as any you've seen in a David Lynch movie. Your jaw will drop, you'll laugh out loud, and the whole weird place just gets better each time you watch it.
helpful•6411
- zestygirl
- Dec 18, 2003
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,300,000
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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