wow fascinating movie. I was a one year out of college when it came out. I had seen that earlier Satyricon by Fellini and some other films. Friends wanted me to go see Pretty Baby but I worked a lot and school and for some reason did not see it. I remember all their talk about it and the press. My friends could not believe what a great and shocking film it was. I agree. I had not heard of Louis Malle till I saw My Dinner with Andre in the early 1980s. Recently I have been trying to see all Malle's films and finally got around to Pretty Baby. I am sure it caused a scandal when released in 1978. I am sure it is causing scandal today. However it is such a fantastic tour de force film. Malle can be the ultimate art film director. PB is a dazzling film. He treats the subject of a brothel and child prostitute with quite a bit of non judgmental detachment trying not to be exploitative. Sven Nykvist's camera work is astonishing and beautiful. The staging of each scene is like a rare photograph. I loved the tough old rough mouthed madame whore played by Francis fay. Of course Brooke Shields is fascinating. Keith Carradine as the obsessive photographer really is the center character of the film. Really this is period piece film making at its greatest. Rare movie looks inside a brothel the story told by a master film maker and filmed by a master photographer. Pent UP Conservatives stay away from this film so you wont get riled up about a world (captured on film ) you would never understand. Not only could you probably not understand the subject matter but certainly would not recognize the brilliant art of the great film men Malle and Nykvist. Great film making highest recommendation Five stars.