Caged (1950)

82% of users liked it
(519 ratings)

Caged, considered the best woman's prison film ever made, represents a union between realistic socially conscious drama and the more stylized world of film noir. Marie, (Eleanor Parker), is sentenced to prison for helping her husband in a small robbery. The prison is run by the sadistic matron… More Caged, considered the best woman's prison film ever made, represents a union between realistic socially conscious drama and the more stylized world of film noir. Marie, (Eleanor Parker), is sentenced to prison for helping her husband in a small robbery. The prison is run by the sadistic matron Evelyn (Hope Emerson) who is secure in her position due to corrupt political influence. The film shows Marie's slow disillusionment with society and her eventual decision to become a prostitute in order to gain parole after observing her friend and fellow inmate Kitty (Betty Garde) lose her sanity and murder their oppressor Evelyn. With this uncompromisingly pessimistic statement on human nature, John Cromwell reaches his peak as a director. Under his expert direction, Eleanor Parker gives the best performance of her career and creates a convincing metamorphosis from a innocent young girl to a hardened criminal. Her performance is nuanced, low-keyed and emotionally charged. Equally impressive is Cromwell's visual realization of the claustrophobia of prison life, aided by the high-contrast photography of Carl Guthrie. This excellent, grim drama is uncompromising in its refusal to sentimentalize the plight of Marie as a victim or to absolve her of her role in her fate, nor does it absolve society as it shows the results of desperation and brutalization on human dignity. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: John Cromwell
Written By: Virginia Kellogg, Bernard C. Schoenfeld
Genres: Drama, Horror, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Jun 26, 2007
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Deemed harsh in 1950, Cromwell's melodrama about women in prison has lost its edge but the acting of Agnes Moorehead and Hope Emerson, as a monstrously facist matron, is good; the film still offers valuable lesson about how life in prison makes criminals
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ranked as the best women-in-prison film ever made, but even if this is so it still doesn't make it very good.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cindy I

If The Big House is the grandpa of prison movies, then Caged is the grandma... or maybe the wicked stepmother. One of the best prison movies I've seen. Supposedly based on true incidents taken from a diary written in prison, albeit by an author who was in prison for research… More
If The Big House is the grandpa of prison movies, then Caged is the grandma... or maybe the wicked stepmother. One of the best prison movies I've seen. Supposedly based on true incidents taken from a diary written in prison, albeit by an author who was in prison for research rather than a rap. Eleanor Parker deserved her Best Actress nom as the naive 19 year old girl who gets hard lessons about life while in jail as an accessory to armed robbery. Her transformation from innocent kid to hardened criminal was astounding. Hope Emerson's 6'2" prison matron, who believed prisoners should be treated like animals in cages, was brutal and hateful, leading directly to Parker's downfall. The downer ending I believe added to the film rather than dragged it down. Movies with such a large female cast (only two men that I can recall) don't normally have this dark a tone. No matter how you feel about prisons and prisoners, you need to see this. A first-class job from all involved.
jay n

The grandmother of all women in prison movies. All the cliches are here. The young innocent turned to a hard criminal life, the sadistic guard just screaming for her comeuppance, the seasoned old con. But its all well presented and has good to excellent performances from a host of… More
The grandmother of all women in prison movies. All the cliches are here. The young innocent turned to a hard criminal life, the sadistic guard just screaming for her comeuppance, the seasoned old con. But its all well presented and has good to excellent performances from a host of great character actresses.

Cast

            Eleanor Parker as Marie Allen

            Agnes Moorehead as Ruth Benton

            Ellen Corby as Emma

            Hope Emerson as Evelyn Harper

            Jan Sterling as Smoochie

            Betty Garde as Kitty Stark

            Jane Darwell as Isolation Matron

            Lee Patrick as Elvira Powell

            Olive Deering as June

            Gertrude Michael as Georgia

            Sheila Stevens as Helen

            Joan Miller as Claire

            Marjorie Crossland as Cossie

            Taylor Holmes as Senator Donnolly

            Frances Morris as Mrs. Foley

            George Baxter as Jeffries

            Don Beddoe as Commissioner Walker

            Lovyss Bradley as Inmate

            Olive Carey as June

            Davison Clark as Doctor

            Pauline Drake as Doctor's Wife

            Marlo Dwyer as Julie

            Helen Eby-Rock as Inmate

            Edith Evanson as Miss Barker

            Sandra Gould as Skip

            William Haade as Laundryman

            Grayce Hampton
            
            Grace Hayes as Mugging Matron

            Esther Howard as Grace

            Hazel Keener as Matron

            Doris Kemper as Inmate

            Charles Meredith as Chairman

            Queenie Smith as Mrs. Warren

            Helen Spring as Woman

            Nita Talbot as Inmate

            Ann Tyrrell as Edna

            Harlan Warde as Dr. Ashton

            Ruth Warren as Miss Lyons

            Billy Wayne as Ada's Father

            Marjorie Wood as Matron

            Helen Mowery as Woman

            Jean Calhoun as Inmate

            Guy Beach as Mr. Cooper

            Gail Bonney as Inmate

            Virginia Engels as Inmate

            Tina Menard as Inmate

            Ezelle Poule as Inmate

            Peggy Wynne as Lottie

            Jane Crowley as Matron

            Evelyn Dockson as Matron

            William Hunter as Guard

            Gracille LaVinder as Visiting Room Matron

            Marie Melesch
            
            Eileen Stevens as Infirmary Nurse
See full cast