Keith Carradine is finally reflecting on that kiss he shared with an 11-year-old Brooke Shields in the wildly controversial 1978 film Pretty Baby. Let’s just say, things have aged about as well as unrefrigerated milk — and that is putting it lightly.
Now, decades later, Carradine has some thoughts about the “naive” experience — and frankly, we’re glad he’s realized how uncomfortable it was.
First, let’s rewind to the movie that should’ve been flagged from day one.
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Pretty Baby introduced a young Brooke Shields to the world, but not in the way you’d hope for a child star.
Directed by the renowned Louis Malle, the film paints a bleak picture of child exploitation, with Shields in scenes that have since been called out immediately.
Now, fast forward to 2024.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrooke Shields is sharing her story in her documentary, Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby, where she opens up about the disturbing nature of her past roles. She’s candid about her feelings surrounding the film, saying that she often wonders how her mother allowed her to participate in such projects.
Honestly, same, Brooke. It’s a wonder anyone thought this was a good idea, let alone a legitimate film project.
Enter Keith Carradine, now 75 and apparently on a mission to make amends for his role in the film.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe’s taken to interviews to reflect on the whole thing, admitting he was “naive” during the filming. Oh, you think?
“There is, of course, no way that film would be made today,” he added.
Embed from Getty ImagesHindsight really is 20/20. But this revelation is about as groundbreaking as 1+1=2.
Carradine explained that he trusted the filmmakers and thought they would handle the sensitive material delicately.
“I was invited to participate by one of the world’s premiere filmmakers,” he recalled.
Embed from Getty Images“I trusted the people with whom I was working that it would be handled properly.” Trusting a major studio to protect a child actress is not the best strategy, Keith.
He continued: “Frankly, I was 27 years old at the time, and pretty naive in my own right. But we were working with extraordinary artists, and I did feel like care was being taken.”
Carradine shared his support for Shields with a verbal pat on the back.
Embed from Getty Images“I applaud Brooke’s exploration of her life and re-examining things from her childhood,” he said. “She’s a substantial person, and I can only support her efforts at completing her exploration of how she feels about it now.”
Meanwhile, as Shields bravely revisits her past in her documentary, one of her own daughters, Rowan, declared that Pretty Baby is “child pornography.”
Embed from Getty Images“Would you have let us [do that] at the age of 11?” Rowan asked Shields. The loaded question brought Shields to tears as she replied: “No.”
And let’s not forget Shields’ complicated relationship with her late mother, Teri.
Embed from Getty ImagesShe’s opened up about how her mom’s neediness shaped her childhood, leaving many to wonder why Teri thought it was a good idea to let her daughter star in such a film in the first place.
In an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show last year, she described her mom as clingy and obsessive toward her.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Barrymore asked if Shields’ mother had ever dated any of the same people as her, she said: “No, because she was in love with me… I was her main focus. Both of us were cut off from our sexuality.”
