Caged

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Cast & Crew

Eleanor Parker

Marie Allen

Agnes Moorehead

Ruth Benton

Hope Emerson

Evelyn Harper

Ellen Corby

Emma Barber

Betty Garde

Kitty Stark

Jan Sterling

Smoochie

Lee Patrick

Elvira Powell

Jane Darwell

Isolation Matron

Gertrude Michael

Georgia Harrison

Joan Miller

Claire (uncredited)

Marjorie Crossland

Cossie (uncredited)

Gertrude Hoffman

Millie (uncredited)

Lynn Sherman

Ann (uncredited)

Queenie Smith

Mrs. Warren (uncredited)

Naomi Robison

Hattie (uncredited)

Esther Howard

Grace (uncredited)

Wilma Francis

Julie (uncredited)

Wanda Tynan

Meta (uncredited)

Peggy Wynne

Lottie (uncredited)

Ann Tyrrell

Edna (uncredited)

John Cromwell

Director

Virginia Kellogg

Screenwriter

Virginia Kellogg

Writer

Bernard C. Schoenfeld

Writer

Jerry Wald

Producer

Max Steiner

Original Music

Carl E. Guthrie

Cinematographer

Owen Marks

Film Editing

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Critic Reviews for Caged

Audience Reviews for Caged

• Feb 17, 2021

  Director John Cromwell has everything he needs to fashion a memorable film: a script that feel authentic about prison life for women; a great ensemble cast; a heavy some have considered the one of the best villains in movies; and a lead performance by Eleanor Parker that will leave you moved by her character's plight.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Aug 24, 2018

  At the beginning of this film, a naïve 19 year old woman (Eleanor Parker) enters prison for being with her husband when he committed a robbery. It's apparent from the outset that she's a good person who got a tough break, but soon she's subjected to a demeaning search, and then in the general population. The other prisoners, led by a 'queen bee' (Betty Garde) size her up quickly as a nice person, and look out for her, although Garde also begins trying to recruit her into a career of shoplifting for when she gets paroled. As the film plays out, there are some aspects that seem unlikely, e.g. the woman breaking down after only three days of solitary confinement, and the warden entering the prison area behind bars fearlessly, quelling a riot by simply shouting "Stop it!" There is also a bit of toughness missing, with little real threat from other prisoners, who all seem relatively decent in spite of some of the crimes they've committed. Aspects like drug use were censored, and there isn't any diversity either. For a good part of the film, I confess that even though I knew it was well made, it didn't really engage me. On the other hand, the film delivers on its critiques of the prison system, including exposing the politics of punishing people, when what's good for society is rehabilitation, but the public sees inmates as animals in a zoo. It also shows the corruption and cruelty that come with power over others. The visuals are stark and pretty realistic looking, and the dialogue is snappy. Hope Emerson turns in a great performance as the prison matron who takes matters into her own hands to mete out extra punishment, as well as run a corrupt racket on the side. Parker is strong too, evolving from a shy nice girl to a hardened prisoner. Both would get Oscar nominations, and they were deserved. I also liked Jan Sterling as 'Smoochie', the C.P., or common prostitute, who starts many lines with 'I got news for you.' Overall the film's message is one advocating prison reform, that excessive toughness on prisoners is not only inhumane but produces the wrong result, and that extra resources ought to be put into things like education. Agnes Moorehead as the prison warden advocates these things, and is a nice counterpoint to Emerson's character. The balance in the prisoners is probably stilted a little too much to general decency, we just don't see any serious depravity here. There is one big moment that is an exception, but even then it seems justified. One can see why the combination of these things had prison wardens upset all over the country when the film was released. I liked how the film explored some of the causes behind women's crimes, including the role of men in their lives, and abusive men in particular. At the same time, it doesn't make excuses. Ultimately Parker's character has a choice, emphasized by an old inmate (wonderfully played by 79-year-old Gertrude Hoffmann), who gives her some sage advice: "Before you get any bright ideas, listen to me. I had a first time like you, but I can't remember how long ago. Then the second rap, then the third. Now I'm a lifer. I'll be 71 soon. Been a con 40 years, and you know what I think? Nobody got cheated but me. Forty years taken away. So I'm giving it to you straight. Wait a year on dead time, but get a legit job slinging hash. Then, get a good guy, have a kid. What I'd give for a sink full of dirty dishes." This is a movie that may sneak up on you, and it has a very strong, powerful ending, one which nudged my review score up.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Jan 29, 2016

  Good stuff as we are taken to a tour of the real hard time, the cooler, the slammer, the joint, behind bars with ... well, a pretty okay collection of ladies considering. Even the repeat offenders seem tame in this offering. Only the head matron in this is bad news, her sadistic ways making your girls-next-door tougher than hydraulic jackhammers. A depiction of what's it like inside that'll seem dated, though still good to watch and that without the expected shower rape scenes.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Aug 19, 2013

  It's actually pretty funny cause I just finished watching Orange is the new black and decided to watch this movie not because it's about women in prison (hell I didn't know the movie is about that) but just because I feel like wanting to watch this. I've been keeping this movie for 2 months and didn't have chance to see it until now. It's pretty good movie, Eleanor Parker was amazing here. I feel like it could be better but it's still a good movie never the less.
  

  Super Reviewer