An upper-class, childless couple in Southern California "hires" a comely hippie to bear the husband's baby (this being 1970, she conceives the old-fashioned way); soon, the straight-laced twosome are drawn into the young woman's world. Interesting, insightful, provocative (for its time), the movie does follow a typical by-the-numbers pattern (with an "open minded" boyfriend, jealousies and friction on all sides), but writer-director James Bridges is very tasteful and unhurried. He also gets some lovely shots of Barbara Hershey at her chestnut-haired, go-go-booted best (my favorites were her run across the street at the beginning, a stunning glimpse of her through a rain-soaked car window, and under the sheets in bed). The incredible finale refuses to compromise, and even though the medical aspects of the story are dated, the emotions are still on-target. *** from ****
6 Reviews
Desperate For A Child
nneprevilo27 May 2007
People didn't want to THINK about this movie at the time it first came out. The idea that a childless couple, so desperate to have a baby, would have the husband meet a young surrogate at a hotel room to "make a baby" while the wife sits nervously at home, looking at the clock, anticipating his return home. That was too much for people. It was titillating and had a sleaziness to it.
Sex can do a lot of things. Barbara Hershey was very good in her part and started to have "feelings" for the husband (this often happens after sex). She has a boyfriend (Scott Glenn), whom she catches in bed with another woman, which sends her over the edge.
I don't remember the end, but I used to have this on tape. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
Sex can do a lot of things. Barbara Hershey was very good in her part and started to have "feelings" for the husband (this often happens after sex). She has a boyfriend (Scott Glenn), whom she catches in bed with another woman, which sends her over the edge.
I don't remember the end, but I used to have this on tape. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
Just another of the many products of its time, and strange as well
bellino-angelo201421 December 2023
THE BABY MAKER is the sort of movie that today simply couldn't have been made because it discusses about women's wanting of getting pregnant and have kids, and today these sort of things aren't discussed anymore. There is one reason tho, why I decided to watch this: it's Scott Glenn's first movie he ever did and as usual, he was one of the best things of the movie.
Suzanne Wilcox (Collin Wilcox, it seems odd but they have the same surname) can't have children so her husband Sam hires a flower child named Tish Gray (Barbara Hershey) for having the baby. Most of the movie then focuses on the clashing views between Tish, her boyfriend Tad Jacks (Glenn) and the Wilcox couple, and also on the turmoil they go through.
To say that the movie is strange would be an understatement. The idea itself of a woman that has to give birth to a child and then give it away to another couple is not something you usually hear in movies, and Scott Glenn's character was 100% unlike his usual characters of men of few words... here he played a loud and fun loving boyfriend to Gray. Considering this was the first movie he ever did, he had to start some way or another.
Overall, if you are fans of 1970s counter culture it's worth a look.
Suzanne Wilcox (Collin Wilcox, it seems odd but they have the same surname) can't have children so her husband Sam hires a flower child named Tish Gray (Barbara Hershey) for having the baby. Most of the movie then focuses on the clashing views between Tish, her boyfriend Tad Jacks (Glenn) and the Wilcox couple, and also on the turmoil they go through.
To say that the movie is strange would be an understatement. The idea itself of a woman that has to give birth to a child and then give it away to another couple is not something you usually hear in movies, and Scott Glenn's character was 100% unlike his usual characters of men of few words... here he played a loud and fun loving boyfriend to Gray. Considering this was the first movie he ever did, he had to start some way or another.
Overall, if you are fans of 1970s counter culture it's worth a look.
A vastly underrated film
zetes7 February 2005
Barbara Hershey plays a hippie girl who is hired to have the baby of a middle class couple (Collin Wilcox-Horne & Sam Groom). The film deals with the clash of values between Hershey, along with her boyfriend (Scott Glenn), and the couple. It also deals honestly and surprisingly fairly with the emotional turmoil all four characters go through. Supposedly the film was dismissed upon its released because of the way it depicted hippie culture, but it is much more positive than a good amount of the films of the day (see Joe, for instance). It neither accepts nor dismisses either of the two classes, but instead deals with the four principals as individuals. The four characters are sensitively written (director Bridges, most famous for writing and directing The China Syndrome, wrote the script here, as well). Hershey, Wilcox-Horne (AKA Wilcox Paxton), Groom, and Glenn all give exceptional performances.
Perfectly captures the spirit of '60s youth.
sylvain-147 June 2017
An excellent, if greatly underrated film. Philosophical author Thaddeus Golas, who lived with a hippie commune for several years in San Francisco in the '60s and 70s, pointed out that The Baby Maker wonderfully captured the spirit of youth in the '60s, far better than Hollywood caricatures like The Trip or Easy Rider. This is true, of course. This film is about the clash of worlds and paradigms. Like most films of the 1970s, it's true themes are hidden under layers, and the title gives few clues as to what the story is truly pointing at. Worth a viewing!
What a lovely tale, told lovingly
hmoika5 November 2017
I admit, I ordered the DVD of this film because it starred the young Barbara Hershey. Okay, sure, she is stunningly beautiful; but as we know, she is also a stunning actress. I'd never seen this film before last night......unless I've forgotten viewing it in the theater upon its release.
Overall, what a lovely film. I'm an old softy, so a story like this would tend to get me; but as other reviewers have said, the stars made this story.
In my opinion, it would be a mistake to fault the film because of a few things that, now, seem rather dated. The characters are subdued with their emotions (for the most part); and that they can pull it off is a sign of the actor's talents.
But really, what else can I say other than: what a lovely tale, lovingly told.
Overall, what a lovely film. I'm an old softy, so a story like this would tend to get me; but as other reviewers have said, the stars made this story.
In my opinion, it would be a mistake to fault the film because of a few things that, now, seem rather dated. The characters are subdued with their emotions (for the most part); and that they can pull it off is a sign of the actor's talents.
But really, what else can I say other than: what a lovely tale, lovingly told.
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