Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

Pretty Baby, the documentary about one of the 20th's century's most iconic faces, proves her beauty runs deep. In the late seventies, we were bombarded with her image of flawless beauty but as she matured we got to see something deeper about her humanity which is well captured in this film. Despite some situations which would have been legally prosecuted today, Brooke seems to accept it all as part of what makes her today. Had no idea who messed up her mother relationship was. It is a miracle she came out sane. Her path to self-discovery is something all young people can understand, but she was able to take the public's glaring and critical eye and say "That's all fine, but this is me." I saw her in a stage show of The Exorcist years ago and said "She really nailed it." It was quite an intense role and she owned it. I've always liked her and now I know better why.

Very insightful although parts were hard to watch. I am writing this review only to speak of the documentaries glaring problem. Some of the people speaking for Brooke were very adamant to soley blame men for her sexual exploitation and yes men should not be casting children in such provocative roles *but* the root of Brookes exploitation was primarily caused by her mother. Jobs aren't forced and the mother accepted these inappropriate jobs for her daughter. This is mostly glossed over and instead her actions are excused by harping on the fact that her mother was the "victim of a hard life", I would have liked the documentary much more if these speakers were not in it as their opinions are irresponsible and hurt feminism.

Guess I never knew much about Brook Shields. Of course you know the face, but how much more? I remember Blue Lagoon but not much else. I remember hearing the name "Pretty Baby" but I never actually saw the movie. So, I guess I'm probably like a lot of people who really only knew of Brook Shields through her modeling. I did watch Suddenly Susan from time to time also but didn't really like it. I recognized Brook as a talented comedian but again, never really gave her much attention beyond that.

Watching the documentary on Hulu accomplished multiple things for me. First, I realized just how damaged Brook Shields is thanks to the terrible parenting she suffered through as a child. If the 2-part series is to be believed, her Mother Teri basically pimped Brook out to anyone willing to pay. Sure the industry itself can certainly be blamed for taking advantage of a beautiful young girl but the two people who should've been keeping her safe, her parents, completely let her down. So in my mind, the documentary is a sad tale about a kid who was abandoned by one parent and completely abused by the other. I'm truly amazed Brook survived her childhood. So while the documentary is interesting, it's also depressing. Overall, I think it was done well but there was one glaring omission, the Father. He basically escapes the whole process here. I'd like to know how he felt about his Wife pimping out his Daughter?

This is a wonderful, interesting, and informative documentary about beautiful Brooke Shields. Gorgeous from birth, joined at the hip with an alcoholic mother, sexualized at an early age, in the public eye from childhood- she somehow has turned out to be a well adjusted wife, mother, and performer. None of it was easy.

The story of her horrific post-partum depression is heartbreaking. Her story of Zefferelli twisting her toe trying to get a look of ecstasy on her face is hilarious.

What saved her, I think, was truly not being sexualized in her private life, her intelligence, attending Princeton, and her humor. (Trying to find work in show biz after college - "Um, is that Brook with or without an E?")

Enlightening and inspiring, Shields is the true adult daughter of an alcoholic who, frankly, could be a big mess today.

Brooke Shields was a stranger in her own life...a life she lived for her mother, then subsequently for Agassi. It's clear her mother peddled her in ways that are objectionable and damaging to a young woman's core self. This explains why I have always seen an nearly imperceptible look of panic in Shields' eyes. Look, you will see it. This documentary is eye opening as it exposes the way Brooke was offered up as a youth sex symbol by uncaring and greedy movie producers who birthed the 70's era of child sex symbols in film--something we are smart enough to reject today. But this bought fame and fortune to young Brooke while the price she paid was personality dissociation. She separated her instinct and feelings from her big celebrity ambitions--it was survival. Somehow, I'm not completely buying the victimization of her narrative, particularly when she defends her role in Pretty Baby to her daughters. Give it up, Brooke. Your mother made you do things that you would never ask your daughters to do.

The industry devours the willing for a pot of gold, even when that will is fabricated. The good part is that Shields has survived her wounds and has self-actualized. That's always a good ending.