Review of Women's Prison

Great shadowy shots in this black and white drama about a women's prison that is being run by a cold unsympathetic Ida Lupino. Her harsh rule leads to the death of a pregnant inmate and the near mental breakdown of another. There are some inner jokes within the prison mainly guards joking about how unrealistic prison films are and an inmate who does spot on impersonations...her Bette Davis was great! Ida steals your attention when she is on the screen somehow making her harsh and unyielding character still feminine and sexy. It is hard to believe her blood runs with ice. The black and white cinematography used lighting to its advantage focusing in on Ida steely eyes. Worth seeing once, if for nothing else some of the one liners... "You won't like it at first, but when you get used to it you'll really hate it." "That's why i'm Back here, I need a holiday." "Here are the rules for the institution. I dare say you've broken every one of them" "Poly, poly clinic jones. My mama named me after the clinic where I was born." "Don't think you can con me, you jailhouse lawyer." "You see, doctor, you are not the only one who knows the quality of mercy."-Van Zandt