Archie Lee Meighan is a failing cotton gin owner who is married to Baby Doll, 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, who plots to seduce Baby Doll away from Meighan.
Acting
Carroll Baker's giggling menace is genuinely unsettling.
Direction
Kazan turns a decaying mansion into a pressure cooker.
Writing
Tennessee Williams' dialogue drips with subtext and humidity.
Director
Elia Kazan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Catholic Legion of Decency condemned it as 'evil,' which only boosted ticket sales and made Baker a star.
This was Eli Wallach's film debut at 31; Kazan cast him after seeing him in a Williams play on Broadway.
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