Review of Baby Doll (1956) by Eric R — 03 Feb 2012

Written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Elia Kazan, Baby Doll was an a controversial film at the time for it's 'indecency". The story revolves around Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a load-mouthed, alcoholic deep south cotton gin owner.

He is married to "Baby Doll" a young teenager who refuses to sleep with her husband until her 20th birthday. Their relationship is tumultuous as Archie Lee's sexual frustration is at an all time high.

Enter Silva Vaccaro, a cotton gin competitor who is out to seek his "own brand of justice" after he realizes that Archie Lee is responsible for setting a fire to his own business operation. He sets his sights on "Baby Doll" as a way to get his revenge, and her affection.

Carroll Baker as "Baby Doll' is painted in an extremely sexy, luscious light in the way she acts and is photographed. The way she talks and acts is very shy and timid, and quite frankly sexy, in the way that men typically have an attraction too.

It's the type of character who has no idea she is tempting these men, but almost everyone she talks too is in a flirtatious, baby doll sorta sexuality. Honestly, I don't think I can think of a female character from the time period that was this sexy, particularly in this naive type of way.

I really like Karl Malden but I can't decide if his performance was strong or if he was overracting. He is an oafish character for sure, but the whole movie he is just yelling at everyone. That being said, the final confrontation scene is great and I really did feel for Archie Lee's character, even if his approach wasn't particularly.

Kazan's focus is on an old fashioned story of justice and revenge really focuses on this strained martial relationship. I can't say it it was intentional but he seems to somewhat comment on how "Baby Doll" is really far too young to be involved in a commitment like marriage.

How 'Baby Doll' talks, plays hide and seek, and even sucks on her thumb, we are shown how she is just a child and really has no chance against older men with stronger, more deceitful minds.