Scared 19 year old Marie Allen arrives at a women's state prison. She was sentenced for 1 to 15 years after her late husband Tom tried to steal $40. She is found to be two months pregnant. Caring superintendent Ruth Benton (Agnes Moorehead) offers hopes of probation in ten months. She loses that hope under the sadistic matron Evelyn Harper's cruel control. Her stepfather refuses to let her mother take custody of her new baby. She is forced to put it up for adoption. When inmate Elvira Powell arrives, there is a rivalry with hardened head criminal Kitty Stark.
On the surface, one expects this to be an exploitation affair but that's not the case. It's actually a serious movie about a young woman sent to prison. It is harsh without being camp. It's almost a scared straight and social commentary movie. Eleanor Parker does a good melodramatic innocent. This is good for its time and surprisingly has several nominations.
On the surface, one expects this to be an exploitation affair but that's not the case. It's actually a serious movie about a young woman sent to prison. It is harsh without being camp. It's almost a scared straight and social commentary movie. Eleanor Parker does a good melodramatic innocent. This is good for its time and surprisingly has several nominations.