Pretty Baby

Pretty Baby

Year: 1950

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Bretaigne Windust

Comedy

Here’s “Pretty Baby!” A young woman living in Manhattan pretends to be the mother of an infant in order to get a seat on the subway.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Pretty Baby yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Pretty Baby (1950)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pretty Baby (1950). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

Set in the mid-20th century, the film captures the pace of a bustling New York City in the 1940s. Public transit and office life reflect the era’s social norms, gender roles, and workplace dynamics. The urgency of advertising campaigns and the prominence of secretaries and executives illustrate the period's professional environment.

Location

New York City, New York Subway

The story unfolds in New York City, with key scenes moving through the crowded subway and the fast-paced offices of a mid-20th-century advertising agency. The subway car serves as a social stage where Patsy performs her ruse, while the agency provides a backdrop of professional ambition and corporate maneuvering. The city’s urban rhythm and public spaces shape interactions and drive the plot forward.

🏙️ Urban setting 🚇 Subway culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Main Characters – Pretty Baby (1950)

Meet the key characters of Pretty Baby (1950), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Patsy Douglas (Betsy Drake)

An ambitious secretary at an advertising agency who improvises a ruse to secure a seat on a crowded subway. Her quick wit and resourcefulness propel the plot, but her deception also creates moral tension as she navigates professional and personal risks. She is determined to advance her career while grappling with the truth behind her façade.

🎭 Deception 💼 Ambition ❤️ Romance

Cyrus Baxter (Edmund Gwenn)

A temperamental yet charismatic client whose attention Patsy captures with her baby ruse. He is delighted by the perceived personal connection and becomes entwined in Patsy’s world. His demeanor oscillates between fiery frustration and surprising warmth as the situation unfolds.

🎭 Temper 💼 Businessman ❤️ Attraction

Sam Morley (Dennis Morgan)

One of the agency’s two bosses who pushes to keep Baxter happy and secure the contract. He encourages Patsy to maintain the deception for the sake of the business, and later confesses his own feelings, complicating the professional scenario with romance.

💼 Boss 🎭 Manipulation 💘 Love

Barry Holmes (Zachary Scott)

The other agency executive who becomes involved with Patsy as part of the broader scheme. He experiences jealousy and romantic tension, contributing to misunderstandings that propel the story toward its climax.

💼 Executive 🧭 Jealousy ❤️ Love

Corcoran

A private investigator hired to track Patsy down when the truth threatens to surface. He functions as a catalyst for revelations, helping drive the plot toward its resolution by pursuing the deception’s consequences.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigation 💼 Bureaucracy 🔍 Truth

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Major Themes – Pretty Baby (1950)

Explore the central themes of Pretty Baby (1950), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Identity

Deception drives the plot as Patsy pretends to have a baby to gain a seat and later to influence Baxter. The film explores how appearances shape others’ perceptions and decisions, often masking truth with charm and improvisation. Characters navigate the tension between authenticity and social performance, especially within the advertising world where image matters.

💘 Romance

Romantic entanglements arise from professional deception, blending affection with strategic maneuvering. Patsy’s relationships with Baxter and the agency bosses blur lines between personal feelings and business needs. Jealousy and affection collide, pushing characters toward confession or continued masquerade.

💼 Work & Influence

The advertising agency and its decisions demonstrate how business aims shape personal lives. The pursuit of a contract drives the plot and prompts moral compromises, highlighting the power dynamics between clients and employees. The film ties intimate choices to professional consequences, showing a world where success depends on managing appearances and alliances.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

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Unlock the Full Story of Pretty Baby

Don't stop at just watching — explore Pretty Baby in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Pretty Baby is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Pretty Baby Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Pretty Baby, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Pretty Baby Summary

Pretty Baby Timeline

Track the full timeline of Pretty Baby with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Pretty Baby Timeline

More About Pretty Baby

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More About Pretty Baby

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