my review from a few years ago Saw CAGED (1950) for the first time this week.. Excellently directed by John Cromwell and photographed by Carl Guthrie, this women behind bars prison drama is fast paced and exciting. The acting by Eleanor Parker, Agnes Moorehead, Hope Emerson, Betty Garde and Ellen Corby is first rate. Parker and Emerson were both nominated for Academy Awards. Virginia Kellogg and Bernard C. Schoenfeld were also nominated for best screenplay. This is a hold nothing back look at the realities of prison life with dashed hopes of parole, suicides, and sadistic prison guards (another hair raising performance by Emerson) The socially conscious side of the film, prison reform, is presented fairly and realistically with far from an upbeat outlook. Moorehead, as the one kind prison administrator is hamstrung by the forces stacked against her. The ending, nailing down the complete transformation of the once innocent Parker, is particularly disturbing. The film opens with a very expressive shadowy noir shot through the window of a truck bringing girls to the prison. From then on I knew Caged was going to be a fine film. Not sure I would want to see it again, however. It's harrowing and grim but as I said, very well done.
