This is clearly a "B" level film but it's a well made one that handles itself pretty well and possesses a cast that uplifts the material just enough to make most critics look at it with some fondness. Story is about a state prison that has a giant wall separating the men's side from the women's and the superintendent in charge of the female inmates is Amelia van Zandt (Ida Lupino) who is very strict and issues out harsh discipline at every turn. A new inmate is brought in named Helene Jensen (Phyllis Thaxter) but she's mentally unable to adjust to her new surroundings and after being put in a padded cell with a straight jacket on she lapses into a coma.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** The prison doctor is Dr. Crane (Howard Duff) who dislikes van Zandt's methods and he tries to protect Helene but once she gets better she's thrown back into the prison population where the other inmates try to help her get along. Another inmate named Joan Burton (Audrey Totter) is married to Glen (Warren Stevens) who's on the other side but he's found a way of sneaking over so that he and his wife can get intimate and eventually Joan must confess to everyone that she's pregnant. The warden cannot get Glen to divulge how he is able to make it over to the female side so it's up to van Zandt to try and get Joan to tell and she beats her senseless to the point that she and her unborn child die. Things get out of hand when word spreads about Joan's death and they take van Zandt hostage with the intent of killing her but Dr. Crane attempts to talk them out of it.
This is directed by Lewis Seiler who was a very popular and capable director and he does a good job of giving this film a distinct noir look with good uses of shadows in many scenes. While this is regarded more or less as a "B" movie I thought there were a few intangibles in the story that give this something of an edge. First, Totter sneaks off to have sex with her husband and the script doesn't shy away from the purpose of their trysts, and secondly, later in the film the story actually has her and her unborn baby die! You never really saw something that tragic occur in movies (at least not in those days) and this event gives the audience a reason to root for the inmates. Strangely, I thought the female prison looked like a pretty decent place to go! The other inmates are all kind to one another and help each other without a hint of gangs or even a single fight occurring and not only are they sociable but we see actress Vivian Marshall doing Bette Davis impersonations. Sounds like a place to go for a vacation! Although, I did laugh when I saw actress Juanita Moore on her hands and knees scrubbing the prison floor and singing "Sweet Chariot". Lupino was such a terrific actress that even though her performance can best be described as hammy it's still an incredibly effective one and there are scenes where her eyes display an evil glint. We have all seen our share of women's prison flicks and while this is clearly not one of the best it's still a well made film that boasts a good cast and is entertainingly made.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** The prison doctor is Dr. Crane (Howard Duff) who dislikes van Zandt's methods and he tries to protect Helene but once she gets better she's thrown back into the prison population where the other inmates try to help her get along. Another inmate named Joan Burton (Audrey Totter) is married to Glen (Warren Stevens) who's on the other side but he's found a way of sneaking over so that he and his wife can get intimate and eventually Joan must confess to everyone that she's pregnant. The warden cannot get Glen to divulge how he is able to make it over to the female side so it's up to van Zandt to try and get Joan to tell and she beats her senseless to the point that she and her unborn child die. Things get out of hand when word spreads about Joan's death and they take van Zandt hostage with the intent of killing her but Dr. Crane attempts to talk them out of it.
This is directed by Lewis Seiler who was a very popular and capable director and he does a good job of giving this film a distinct noir look with good uses of shadows in many scenes. While this is regarded more or less as a "B" movie I thought there were a few intangibles in the story that give this something of an edge. First, Totter sneaks off to have sex with her husband and the script doesn't shy away from the purpose of their trysts, and secondly, later in the film the story actually has her and her unborn baby die! You never really saw something that tragic occur in movies (at least not in those days) and this event gives the audience a reason to root for the inmates. Strangely, I thought the female prison looked like a pretty decent place to go! The other inmates are all kind to one another and help each other without a hint of gangs or even a single fight occurring and not only are they sociable but we see actress Vivian Marshall doing Bette Davis impersonations. Sounds like a place to go for a vacation! Although, I did laugh when I saw actress Juanita Moore on her hands and knees scrubbing the prison floor and singing "Sweet Chariot". Lupino was such a terrific actress that even though her performance can best be described as hammy it's still an incredibly effective one and there are scenes where her eyes display an evil glint. We have all seen our share of women's prison flicks and while this is clearly not one of the best it's still a well made film that boasts a good cast and is entertainingly made.