SPOILERS!!!! Meek mild Marie Allen (Eleanor Parker) is sentenced to 5 years in prison for a robbery attempt her husband forced her into--he was killed. She's stuck in a cell block run by big evil Evelyn Harper (Hope Emerson). She sees or has to deal with beatings, strongly implied lesbian come ons, madness, suicide and mutilation. She is released after a reduced sentence--but she's now a hardened criminal.
Some of this is dated. The dialogue is tame (but it had to be) and when Parker's head is sadistically shaved it's not half as shocking now as it must have been in 1950. Still this is a strong movie and extremely well made. What's most surprising is there are a few characters that are quite obviously lesbians--Emerson's Harper and Elvira Powell played by Lee Patrick. Nothing is made explicit (they even make sure Harper mentions her boyfriend) but it is there and it's hard to miss. Quite surprising for a 1950 film.
All the acting is excellent. Agnes Moorehead overacts (but in an amusing way) as warden Ruth Benton. All the female convicts are very well done but Emerson and Parker really carry this movie. Emerson is downright horrific in her role and you see Parker go from meek and mild to cruel and hard-bitten. Both deservedly were Oscar-nominated for their roles. So it is dated but still powerful and well worth seeing.
Some of this is dated. The dialogue is tame (but it had to be) and when Parker's head is sadistically shaved it's not half as shocking now as it must have been in 1950. Still this is a strong movie and extremely well made. What's most surprising is there are a few characters that are quite obviously lesbians--Emerson's Harper and Elvira Powell played by Lee Patrick. Nothing is made explicit (they even make sure Harper mentions her boyfriend) but it is there and it's hard to miss. Quite surprising for a 1950 film.
All the acting is excellent. Agnes Moorehead overacts (but in an amusing way) as warden Ruth Benton. All the female convicts are very well done but Emerson and Parker really carry this movie. Emerson is downright horrific in her role and you see Parker go from meek and mild to cruel and hard-bitten. Both deservedly were Oscar-nominated for their roles. So it is dated but still powerful and well worth seeing.