Baby Doll

Play trailer

Baby Doll

R,

1956,

1h 54m,

Comedy/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

82%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Based on a play by Tennessee Williams, "Baby Doll" centers on Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a failing cotton gin owner who is married to Baby Doll (Carroll Baker), a 19-year-old childlike beauty whose father arranged the marriage for financial reasons. As Archie awaits the arrival of Baby Doll's 20th birthday, the day that they are supposed to consummate their marriage, he faces interference from business rival Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach), who plots to seduce Baby Doll away from Meighan.

Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

Sep 14, 2022

With a bit more directorial restraint, the film could have been a classic -- as is, the uniformly excellent performances make it a case history of four strange persons.

Go to Full Review

Jean Yothers

Orlando Sentinel

Oct 8, 2021

It is very well done.

Go to Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 6, 2008

Wallach as the vengeful Vacarro plays it to the hilt. Malden is cast to perfection and turns in a socko performance.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 22, 2026

3/4

A movie so contentious that it was banned in a few countries, pulled in several U.S. cities, and denounced by the Archbishop of New York, who forbade his flock from seeing it "under pain of sin" (now there’s a pull quote for the ads!).

Go to Full Review

Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Jul 18, 2022

3.5/4

The good news is that it's just as entertaining now as it must have been in 1956. It's also much funnier (intentionally or otherwise).

Go to Full Review

Robert Bingham

The Reporter

Feb 10, 2022

A picture that is several cuts above Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender but quite far below A Streetcar Named Desire, another Kazan- Williams collaboration, and not even to be compared with their Rose Tattoo.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Hermione R

Dec 17, 2011

I doubt it holds up but worth a try

Read all reviews

Elia Kazan

Director

Karl Malden

Archie Lee Meighan

Carroll Baker

Baby Doll Meighan

Eli Wallach

Silva Vacarro

Mildred Dunnock

Aunt Rose Comfort

Lonny Chapman

Rock

Ridicule

80%

84%

Ridicule

Watchlist

Pixote

94%

93%

Pixote

Watchlist

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

84%

89%

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Watchlist

Wattstax

90%

90%

Wattstax

Watchlist

Ratcatcher

86%

86%

Ratcatcher

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Based on a play by Tennessee Williams, "Baby Doll" centers on Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a failing cotton gin owner who is married to Baby Doll (Carroll Baker), a 19-year-old childlike beauty whose father arranged the marriage for financial reasons. As Archie awaits the arrival of Baby Doll's 20th birthday, the day that they are supposed to consummate their marriage, he faces interference from business rival Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach), who plots to seduce Baby Doll away from Meighan.

Director: Elia Kazan
Producer: Elia Kazan
Screenwriter: Tennessee Williams
Production Co: Newtown Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 8, 2011
Runtime: 1h 54m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings