Lee Eisenberg
The "women in prison" genre is usually associated with exploitation movies, but it turns out that there have been serious movies in this number. John Cromwell's Academy Award-nominated "Caged" focuses on a naive young woman (Eleanor Parker) put in jail with a collection of tough gals, forcing her to become equally tough. While it doesn't share the brutality of "Brubaker" or "The Shawshank Redemption", it still has some intense scenes. And as the end of the movie makes clear, the prison experience has almost certainly made the protagonist more prone to crime (as often happens in real life).In addition to Parker, the cast includes Agnes Moorehead (Endora on "Bewitched"), Hope Emerson (the strongwoman who hoisted Spencer Tracy's character in "Adam's Rib") and Jane Darwell (the matriarch in "The Grapes of Wrath"). The director is the father of James Cromwell.
mark.waltz
That leaves out Agnes Moorhead as the moral superintendent fighting against veteran matron Hope Emerson who brings her charges anything but hope. She's of the belief that the women deserve to be treated like animals, often passive aggressively being cruel with seemingly kind words. For newcomer Eleanor Parker, a 19 year old accused of being accessory to armed robbery, she learns a great deal in her stint in prison, going from sweet innocent to cynical as she views the shocking cruelties. Betty Garde, as a small time vice queen, faces her hatred of Emerson's Evelyn Harper with the arrival of higher class vice queen Lee Patrick. This is degradation of women by women at it's highest, with lots of hints of sadistic lesbianism thrown in as well.Terrifically written and acted, this was a star making part for Parker, already a veteran but much praised for her detailed performance. Moorhead is excellent as well, presented softer than normal as to increase the maliciousness of Emerson's vile matron. Smaller roles played by Jan Sterling, Ellen Corby and Gertrude Hoffman are other standouts. Wearing little to no makeup, Patrick makes her lust towards Parker plenty obvious. Unlike other women's prison movies, this lacks the camp quotient, although there's plenty of opportunity to make some of the more melodramatic moments into something humorous.Holding it's own nearly 70 years after release, this is going to be the film for which Hope Emerson will always be remembered. Along with Margaret Hamilton's wicked witch and Judith Anderson's Mrs. Danvers, her sinister matron is one of the best female villains in movie history. This made important points about the abuse of authority and the inhumanity towards inmates that makes no effort to rehabilitate those who have become desperate enough to break the law. There had been women's prison movies before ("Ladies They Talk About", "Sorority House") and after ("Women's Prison", "House of Women") that tried to limit the camp elements (and many more that did not), but "Caged" is the best of the lot on every level.
thejcowboy22
When I first saw this eye opening early 50's Film Noir picture I was glued to the television set. A prison filled with woman? How novel! Our Story begins with a young, Green, pregnant and straight haired Marie Allen (Eleanore Parker)involved in an armed robbery as an accessory entering the unfriendly confines of a correctional facility. Already you feel the dark wrath of the Captain of the guards Evelyn Harper played by Hope Emerson. A no-nonsense disciplinarian who could be as tough if not tougher than an male counterpart. The Stocky Build and face to match makes her a very credible for that role. Another player in the movie is Betty Garde the leader of the cell block with a ruggedness and wisdom needed to survive the bleak, hopeless surroundings. Betty would play shoplifting games with her mates to pass the time but also gave advise to the new cons entering the system. You empathize with her along with a young Marie as the daily riggers of prison weighs down on the tormented females. One more character in the movie was the Warden played by Agnes Moorehead who represents a soft, objectionable role as the unacquainted administrator as Commandant Harper reeks havoc on the woman behind her back.Harper goes as far as using insubordination on her boss using nepotism to keep her power over the frustrated Warden with threats to the prison board. Meanwhile Marie, who goes through the ringer getting tougher as the days go by and you see the transformation from scared vulnerable girl to hard nosed female convict.Famous cameo scene shows an elderly woman convict played by Gertrude Hoffman known by most as Mrs. Odetts on the TV comedy MY LITTLE MARGIE as she give her two bits of advice to the younger cons. As a I stated you'll be glued to the movie and when it ends you'll be paroled temporarily cause you'll be back for a second term of watching this unique Prison movie.
JLRMovieReviews
This review is for those of you who know Eleanor Parker only as the Baroness in "The Sound of Music" and/or those who don't know her name but have seen the musical for a lifetime without appreciating the actress of Eleanor Parker and her range.We open on a truck of women being transported to women's prison. She is obviously new to this situation as she looks scared out of her wits and lost. She says it all with her eyes. She is pulled out of the truck and rushed into the big house. We discover her husband did a holdup and was killed, but, because she was in the car waiting, she was considered an accessory to the crime and was given 1 to 15 years. But she could be out in 10 months for good behavior, if nothing happens to her in the meantime. But, as it was inevitable, a cruel matron, played mercilessly well by Hope Emerson, factors in the development of Eleanor's hardened character. Agnes Moorehead gives great support as the superintendent or warden of the institution and is a much-needed friend to Eleanor and the film boasts a strong cast of character actresses including Ellen Corby, Jan Sterling and Lee Patrick, but the film belongs completely to Eleanor Parker and the film's director who holds nothing back. At times, the film is unbearable to take from the callousness and indifference of the employees who admit them in the prison to the cruel treatment they are accustomed to from the matron and even each other. "Caged" is an unflinchingly raw and grim look at prison life, no holds barred. Making it particularly worse is seeing just how vulnerable Eleanor is and how unjust and inhuman the treatment is.Ms. Parker was Oscar nominated for her performance and, if ever she was going to win, it would have been for this performance. Though Ms. Parker will be seen every year by millions who watch "The Sound of Music" and forgotten the next day, she was called "the actress of a thousand faces," due to her dramatic range and was considered one of the best actresses of her day. Watch "Caged" and more of her films and discover the world of Eleanor Parker and you'll simply be amazed by this versatile actress.
AD
