The Baby was directed in 1972 by Ted Post. Ted Post is probably not a name that most people conjure with, yet for me he was one of the best American directors for hire. Having made a very passable spaghetti western imitation with Clint Eastwood, Hang ‘Em High, and perhaps also the best of the Dirty Harry films; certainly the best of the Dirty Harry sequels, Magnum Force. Most film and TV directors are directors for hire, in fact; in the sense that they don’t initiate their own projects but direct whatever comes along.