Barbara Stanwyck had already made ten films when at the age of 25 she made this one. Baby Face allowed her to completely dominate a movie. All the other actors pale in comparison.
In Baby Face she plays an abused girl who is given some dubious advice by a man in a bar. "Don't let men dominate you," he said more or less. "You dominate them." And so she does literally sleeping her way up to the top of a building. Although reviews refer to her as a social climber, it is money and a safety she craves.
It is not until the final scenes that she regrets her choices and does what she can to rectify it. The film was made in 1933 before the Hays Code took effect. It is blunt and sexy. Apparently the ending has been toyed with over the years. I liked the version I saw. And, Stanwyck took the bar sage's advice and dominated this film,.
9 comments:
I agree. I love those pre-Code movies, and Stanwyck owned this one.
Stanwyck owned most of the films she was in.
Too true.
Love this one - got to see on the big screen in a double bill with NIGHT NURSE and just fell in love with Stanwyck and Joan Blondell all over again!
Stanwyck had the same power to control a scene as Katharine Hepburn did. Both great actresses!
Watched this scene and then watched the boxcar scene (cut from the final release) where she seduces the railyard guy. Now I have to see the whole movie. Thanks for featuring this movie.
A truly big surprise to me. Stanwyck could play any role. Maybe even the male ones.
I loved how she used to call Charlton Heston Moses when she worked on the 80s TV show "The Colbys" They didn't get along at all and she pretty much hated working on the TV show which she called "the worst piece of garbage I've ever been a part of". Of Heston she once said: "He has a bad memory. He still thinks he's parting the Red sea." Zing! No filter for Stanwyck.
Stanwyck big Fan she very intense in her roles
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