Based on a play by Tennessee Williams,"Baby Doll" focuses around Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a failing cotton gin owner who is married to babydoll (Carroll Baker), a 19-year old child like beauty whose father ordered the marriage to financial reasons. Since Archie anticipates the coming of Baby Doll's 20th birthday, the day they are supposed to consummate his marriage, he faces hindrance from firm rival Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach), who plans to seduce babydoll away from Meighan.