Review of Baby Face (1933) by Monsieur R — 26 Feb 2011

Way ahead of its time, this moderately placed film is probably more true than any of us would like to believe. Girls get ahead not by their knowledge, but by their looks (imagine THAT!). Baby Face is proof of this as our lead ruins one man after another. A heavily censored film by NY.

A young woman uses her body and her sexuality to help her climb the social ladder, but soon begins to wonder if her new status will ever bring her happiness. Coaxed on by an old friend interested in a German philoshopher who advises aggressive methods, then crush and destroy.

Baby Face, the title, actually comes from the mouth of none other than John Wayne, a small bit player as one of the many loves of Baby Face. You actually hear him say Baby Face for the first time in the film. He looked pretty handsome to me and you know my mug is not handsome.

This dvd is taken from a set of a set highlighting the more sensuous years of early Hollywood, when there were no rules.

A forerunner of films today, these black and white classics paved the way for the intensly graphic sexual scenes we are forced to watch today.

The music score, St. Louis Woman, is played constantly to the point of sickness.

NOTES about the film:

1 "Baby Face", the title, actually comes from the mouth of none other than John Wayne, a small bit player as one of the many loves of Baby Face.

2 Taglines: "She climbed the ladder of success - wrong by wrong!".

3 In 2004, a "dupe negative" copy of the film as it existed prior to being censored was located at the Library of Congress. This uncensored version received its public premiere at the London Film Festival in November 2004, more than 70 years after it was made.

4 one of the most outrageous pre-Code releases of the early 1930s.

Some dialog from the film:

1 Lily Powers: "Yeah, I'm a tramp, and who's to balme? My Father. A swell start you gave me. Ever since I was fourteen, what's it been? Nothing but men! Dirty rotten men! And you're lower than any of them. I'll hate you as long as I live!".

2 Lily Powers: "Of course, if Fuzzy Wuzzy really wants to give me something, he could put a few more pennies in my bank account.".

J.P. Carter: "My Dear, ask me something difficult." :).

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck ... Lily Powers.

George Brent ... Courtland Trenholm.

Donald Cook ... Ned Stevens.

Alphonse Ethier ... Adolf Cragg.

Henry Kolker ... J.P. Carter.

Margaret Lindsay ... Ann Carter.

Arthur Hohl ... Ed Sipple.

John Wayne ... Jimmy McCoy Jr.

Director: Alfred E. Green.

Writers: Gene Markey (screenplay), Kathryn Scola (screenplay).