Baby Doll

In the heart of Tiger's Tail County, Mississippi, Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a beleaguered cotton gin owner, shares a ramshackle plantation house with his young and vivacious wife, Baby Doll (Carroll Baker), and her eccentric Aunt Rose Comfort (Mildred Dunnock). This peculiar trio's lives are marked by tension, as Archie Lee's ardent desire for intimacy is met with Baby Doll's stubborn reluctance. The couple's separate bedrooms, a symbol of their unbridgeable gap, only add to the sense of unease. As Baby Doll's 20th birthday approaches, she promises to finally surrender her innocence to Archie Lee - but not before extracting a promise that he will provide for her in a way that satisfies her growing frustration.

Despite his best efforts, Archie Lee finds himself struggling to keep his business afloat as the Syndicate Gin, run by the cunning Silva Vaccaro (Eli Wallach), begins to dominate the local cotton industry. Vaccaro's ruthless tactics have already forced many small-time entrepreneurs out of business, and Archie Lee is next in line for the chopping block. As tensions simmer, Archie Lee's desperation boils over, culminating in a dramatic act of defiance that will have far-reaching consequences.

In the aftermath of this bold move, Vaccaro sets his sights on Archie Lee, determined to prove his guilt and exact revenge. When Baby Doll inadvertently reveals that Archie Lee was not at home when the fire occurred, Vaccaro becomes suspicious and begins to circle back around. Meanwhile, Archie Lee is left reeling as his antiquated machinery breaks down, leaving him no choice but to venture out in search of a replacement part. As he disappears from view, Vaccaro seizes the opportunity to make his move, sending an associate to retrieve the part from his own storehouse while he continues to pursue Baby Doll with sinister intent.

As Baby Doll (Carol Burnett) becomes increasingly convinced that the plantation house is a hotbed of paranormal activity, Vaccaro (Ken Perry) exploits her fears with mischievous glee. Their playful game of hide and seek culminates in Baby Doll retreating to the attic, where she's forced to confront the treacherous state of the floorboards - a precarious perch that belies the gravity of the situation. As Vaccaro's demeanor shifts from jocular to menacing, he demands that Baby Doll sign an affidavit alleging that Archie Lee (Stacy Keach) is responsible for burning down the gin house, his latest scheme in a long line of failed business ventures. With her signature secured, Vaccaro's grip on Baby Doll tightens, and she's persuaded into inviting him to share a languid afternoon in the crib, one of the few remaining relics of a bygone era.

The arrival of Archie Lee injects a dose of reality into this surreal scene, his disbelieving gaze fixed on the tableau of Baby Doll lounging with Vaccaro, clad only in her slip. His incredulous expressions deepen as he discovers that Vaccaro has begun to usurp his business interests, and Baby Doll's suggestion that they discuss potential partnerships over dinner is met with a mixture of disdain and desperation. Archie Lee's attempts to regain control are foiled when Baby Doll shares a kiss with Vaccaro, further solidifying her bond with the opportunistic entrepreneur.

As tensions simmer, Archie Lee plots his downfall by threatening Aunt Rose (Lola Trull) with eviction, only to be met with Vaccaro's offer of employment as his personal cook. The fragile harmony is shattered when Archie Lee becomes drunk on anger and sets out to confront Vaccaro, but finds himself at a loss without the cunning entrepreneur's presence. The police arrive to disarm him, and Vaccaro emerges from hiding to produce Baby Doll's signed affidavit, securing Archie Lee's arrest alongside his own.

As the dust settles, Baby Doll resigns herself to the possibility that Vaccaro's interests lie elsewhere, her hopes of retaining his affections thwarted by his pragmatism. With a heavy heart, she leads Aunt Rose back into the plantation house, contemplating the uncertain future that lies ahead.