MovieChat Forums > Pretty Baby (1978) Discussion > This film is quite un-erotic....

This film is quite un-erotic....

posted 12 years ago by cookiela2001
6 replies | jump to latest

I rewatched this film last evening after many years, and was struck by how UN-erotic it is. For all the outrage it still (apparently) raises in some quarters, the film isn't salacious at all. It really just depicts rather everyday occurances that happen to a group of people who happen to live in a brothel.

There's also nothing leering or even sensual about the way Brooke Shields is presented. She's just a very young girl who, amongst all the other activity, is sometimes nude in a bath, or posing nude for a photographer, etc. On top of which, there's nothing sexy about her manner, or undeveloped body.

It's very strange that this film caused such a sensation...in that, it's more the CONCEPT of focusing on a 12-year-old prostitute that's provocative, rather than anything that's actually shown in the movie.

[–] PurpleLemonadeDinosaur 11 years ago

Anyone who thinks this film was "erotic" has serious issues of their own. It wasn't supposed to be erotic. I mean, Jodie Foster played a twelve year old prostitute in modern day society years earlier, but she wasn't naked.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] TheAnimalMother 11 years ago

Exactly. The only sensation this film generated for it's sexuality was truly only generated by those who are extreme sensationalists.

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[–] governess98 11 years ago

Ive notice that most people I come across who have problems with this movie have actually never seen it . Yes there will always be a few pervs who get off on this film but for others its a rather sad and tragic story. Nothing sexy about it at all.

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago

I remember hearing so much flak about this film, but when I finally watched it, I wondered what the heck all the fuss was about.
There was nothing 'sexy' about it, nor was Brooke Shields even exploited really.
Perhaps the subject matter itself (child prostitution) was considered racy, but nothing is really shown.
Aside from all the hoopla, its a rather mediocre movie. I remember very little about it.

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[–] 10 years ago

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