Barbara Knudson made her mark in 1958 with her role in The Cry Baby Killer, a film that embodies the raw energy of exploitation cinema. Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous era, she delivers a compelling performance that captures the chaotic spirit of youth rebellion. While her filmography may be sparse, her contribution to this cult classic resonates within the genre, highlighting the often-overlooked figures of grindhouse cinema. Knudson's presence in The Cry Baby Killer remains a testament to the vibrant, if sometimes forgotten, world of mid-century cult films.
The Cry Baby Killer
After Jimmy Wallace is beaten by Manny Cole and his friends over Carole, Jimmy confronts him and challenges him to a fight outside the café; during a struggle, Jimmy grabs a gun from one of Manny's friends and two gunshots ring out. A nearby police officer corners Jimmy, who then rushes into a room and takes a worker and a mother with her baby hostage. After a prolonged and tense hostage situation, Carole begs Jimmy to come out, who then does, surrendering himself to the police and releasing the hostages. Jack Nicholson makes his film debut as a juvenile delinquent, who panics when he thinks he's committed murder. Seventeen-year-old Jimmy Walker is brutally beaten by Manny Cole and two of his teen-age punk friends, Joey and Al, because Manny wants to move in on Jimmy’s girl, Carole Fields. Later, Jimmy shows up at the hangout of the teenage crowd to take Carole away, and challenges Manny to a fight. Manny’s two buddies move in with brass knuckles, and one of them pulls a pistol, which falls to the ground in the scuffle. Jimmy picks it up and shoots Manny and Al. A police officer orders Jimmy to surrender, but he panics, thinking he killed the pair, and dives into a small storeroom, and holds Sam and Mrs. Maxton and her small infant baby hostages. Police Lieutenant Porter and others plead with Jimmy to surrender and release the hostages, but the terrified Jimmy threatens Sam and Mrs. Maxton with death if they break out. A large crowd gathers and almost breaks through the police lines to storm the storeroom. Porter decides to use tear gas, with a rescue unit standing by to help Mrs. Maxton and her baby.
