The Baby Maker

The Baby Maker is a 1970 American

drama film that was directed and co-written by James Bridges and released by National General Pictures

Plot

Tish Gray is a flower child who is hired to have the baby of a middle-class couple, Suzanne and Jay Wilcox. The film exposes the clash of values between Tish, her boyfriend Tad Jacks, and the couple. It also deals with the emotional turmoil all four characters go through.

Cast

Barbara Hershey as Tish Gray
Collin Wilcox Paxton as Suzanne Wilcox (as Collin Wilcox-Horne)
Sam Groom as Jay Wilcox
Scott Glenn as Tad Jacks
Jeannie Berlin as Charlotte
Lili Valenty as Mrs. Culnick
Helena Kallianiotes as Wanda
Jeff Siggins as Dexter
Phyllis Coates as Tish's Mother
Madge Kennedy as Tish's Grandmother
Ray Hemphill as the Toy Store 'Killer'
Paul Linke as Sam
Bobby Pickett as Dr. Sims
Samuel Francis as The Single Wing Turquoise Bird
Alan Keesling as The Single Wing Turquoise Bird (2)

Release

The film had its premiere on October 1, 1970 at the Plaza and New Embassy Theatres in New York.^[1]

Reception

Criticizing the directing and writing of James Bridges, critic Shirley Rigby said of the "bizarre" film, "Only the performances in the film save it from being a total travesty." Rigby went on to say, "Barbara Hershey is a great little actress, much, much more than just another pretty face."^[2] John Simon called The Baby Maker "insufferable".^[3]

Home media

The Baby Maker was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on March 23, 2009, via the Warner Archives DVD-on-demand service as a Region 1 DVD.

References

^ ^a ^b "New York Sound Track". Variety. September 23, 1970. p. 4.
^ [1] ^{[dead link]}
^ Simon, John (1982). Reverse Angle: A Decade of American Film. Crown Publishers Inc. p. 123.