Girls in Chains (1943)

Synopsis: In this sturdy little crime drama, Helen (Arline Judge, a sort of drowsy Barbara Stanwyck) takes a job as rehabilitation counselor at a tough girl's reformatory. The crooked warden of the place... In this sturdy little crime drama, Helen (Arline Judge, a sort of drowsy Barbara Stanwyck) takes a job as rehabilitation counselor at a tough girl's reformatory. The crooked warden of the place (Clancy Cooper) embezzles the state-funded money meant for things like heat and food, and pays it off to a crook named Johnny Moon (Allan Byron) who happens to be Helen's brother-in-law. She does her best to help the jaded girls, but then the system slaps her down, hard. Roger Clark co-stars as the policeman who helps Helen gather evidence. Emmett Lynn provides lengthy comic relief as a drunk. Directed on the cheap by cult director Edgar G. Ulmer (DETOUR), the film packs a solid little punch, and resembles a 1930's Warner Bros. gangster movie. Of special note are the incredibly imposing hairstyles on the women. Whether it was the fad of the time, or just the PRC stylists' idea, these ‘dos are something else, as is the flamboyant tough-girl dialogue. Patricia Knox, Barbara Pepper, and Robin Raymond co-star as some of the girls abused by the system. [More]

Starring: Arline Judge, Roger Clark, Robin Raymond, Barbara Pepper

Starring: Arline Judge, Roger Clark, Robin Raymond, Barbara Pepper, Dorothy Burgess, Clancy Cooper, Emmett Lynn, Patricia Knox, Sid Melton

Director: Edgar G. Ulmer

Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Screenwriter: Albert Beich
Producer: Leon Fromkess
Composer: Leo Erdody

[See More Credits]