Baby Face

Barbara Stanwyck climbs her way to the top of New York, one man at a time in this bold Depression-era drama.

  • Director

    Alfred E. Green

  • With

    Barbara Stanwyck, George Bent, Donald Cook

  • USA 1933. 75min

  • Newly remastered Digital

  • Certificate

    12A

  • Courtesy of Park Circus and Warner Bros

“I'm a ball of fire, I am.” Pre-Code cinema was often a dangerous game of one-upmanship. Warner Bros. took one look at MGM’s highly risqué Red-Headed Woman and decided to respond with this jaw-dropping sensation marketed with the tagline “She had it and made it pay”. She is Barbara Stanwyck, in a steely early role as single-minded young Lily Powers, sexually exploited from a young age and determined both to turn the tables on men, and to use her feminine charms to create a better life for herself. Inspired by some words from Nietzsche she hops a train to New York with Chico (Theresa Harris) to embark on a career as a ruthless seductress. In the big city, she starts sleeping her way to the top of a bank run by a notorious playboy (George Brent).

Pamela Hutchinson

Tickets £8, concs £7.20 (Non Members £8, no concs)

The screening on Tuesday 16 August 20:50 NFT1 will be introduced by Pamela Hutchinson.