Baby Face is a classic pre-code movie about a woman who sleeps her way to the top. The CD I received has it as a "Forbidden Hollywood Collection" and you can see why it is. This was probably clamped down hard by Hays Code Hollywood. Although tame by today's standards it must have raised a few eyebrows in 1933. The story itself is about a young woman who works at her father's speakeasy and is pimped out by him to keep it running smoothly. When the father dies in a fire she goes out on her own and makes a life and a living the only way she know how; on her looks and her charm. What I found interesting is that the movie made no bones about keeping Lily unlikable almost all the way through. She used men and then threw them away without thought or emotion. It was only the last guy that things changed and the moment of truth happened. There are two versions of this movie and my recommendation; if you only watch one, is watch the pre-release version; it tells a better story and the theatrical version tacks on a clumsy happy ending that doesn't really fit. Otherwise this is a classic 1930's movie that is not to be missed.
Review of Baby Face
