Review of Baby Doll (1956) by Millo T — 18 Jun 2011
Like many a Tennessee Williams story, "Baby Doll" is a steamy, sordid tale of jealousy, cruelty, and sex set in the deep South. And like many a Tennessee Williams story, it's a true actors' showcase.
Karl Malden plays Archie Lee like a barking dog, waiting impatiently for the day he can finally take his young virginal wife Baby Doll to bed. Carroll Baker brings the right quality of spiteful immaturity to Baby Doll, cruelly tantalizing Archie Lee and flirting with men.
Williams' screenplay draws appropriate visual parallels right off the bat, as we first see Baby Doll sleeping in a child's crib, while Archie Lee peers at her through a hole in the wall on all fours, joined by the household dog.
Some lengthy sequences make it hard to dissociate the film from its stage roots.
This review of Baby Doll (1956) was written by Millo T on 18 Jun 2011.
Baby Doll has generally received very positive reviews.
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