CAGED! (1950)

The 1950 women-in-prison flick CAGED! was based on notes and observations made by writer Virginia Kellogg who spent time undercover in the US prison system.

CAGED!

1950. USA.

 Director: John Cromwell

Screenplay: Virginia Kellogg

Based on:  “Women Without Men” by Virginia Kellogg & Bernard C. Schoenfeld

 Starring: Eleanor Parker, Agnes Moorehead, Betty Garde, Hope Emerson, Lee Patrick and Ellen Corby

The Women-in-Prison genre emerged in Hollywood’s Pre-Code era through films like LADIES OF THE BIG HOUSE (1931), LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT (1933) and CONDEMNED WOMEN (1938) and grew in popularity in postwar America. Many of the films acted as a warning to women, emphasizing the dangers of straying from the typical gender roles of the time. Occasionally even lesbian subject matter was allowed to be referenced on screen, despite the censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, so long as it was associated with fear and villainy.

“CAGED!” follows Marie Allen (Parker), a young widower, after she is sent to prison for her involvement in a robbery. She slowly hardens from the attitudes and hostility the other female inmates show her.

The film’s title might make it sound like a low-budget exploitation flick – but, it was nominated for multiple Academy Awards – Best Actress (Eleanor Parker), Best Supporting Actress (Hope Emerson) and Best Writing.

What is most unique about this film is that it came about by the screenwriter, Virginia Kellogg, falsely imprisoning herself in a women’s only prison. She took notes, including information about lesbianism, and wrote everything into her script once she was bailed out. Her character of the prison Matron (Emerson) was toned down slightly from the original script, along with an inmate who was supposed to dote on her. Instead, the more obvious lesbian character is a woman named kitty (Betty Garde) who has her eye on Marie. She even makes a subtle comment about Marie changing her sexual preference.
The women’s prison genre grew in the 1950s and would continue on through the decades – it paved the way for the television series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (which thankfully featured much better queer representation).

You can find CAGED! streaming on Plex (Canada/USA/UK), for rent/purchase through AppleTV, Amazon and YouTube, and also available on DVD/Blu-ray