Ladies They Talk About

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Cast & Crew

Barbara Stanwyck

Nan Taylor, Nan Ellis, Mrs. Andrews

Preston Foster

David "Dave" Slade

Lyle Talbot

Gangster Don

Dorothy Burgess

"Sister" Susie

Maude Eburne

Aunt Maggie

Lillian Roth

Prisoner Linda

Ruth Donnelly

Prison Matron Noonan

William Keighley

Director

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Critic Reviews for Ladies They Talk About

Audience Reviews for Ladies They Talk About

• Feb 05, 2017

  If you're not a Barbara Stanwyck fan, you should skip this movie. It's a pretty silly story, the scenes in prison are far too comfortable, and there are a couple of cringe-inducing, racist scenes showing African-Americans frightened as if they were stupid children. If you are a Barbara Stanwyck fan, however, you will probably like this movie at least enough to watch it, and perhaps as a guilty pleasure. She simply has an amazing screen presence, and it's fascinating to see her in the role of a streetwise criminal. She has scenes ranging from 'tough girl' to one hopeful for love and a second chance, and she goes all out in her anger in one scene towards the end, with spittle flying and really letting loose. Much is made of the lesbian reference in the prison ("she likes to wrestle", indicating a butch looking woman smoking a cigar), but it's a passing thing and made me smile, as did the old madam reminiscing about the men coming to her "beauty parlor" for "manicures". It's all pretty tame for a pre-Code film. Of her fellow actors, DeWitt Jennings stands out in the role of the detective who consistently sees through Stanwyck, but she's the one to watch the film for.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Jun 02, 2012

  Saucy little number put across by Barbara Stanwyck with her customary grit. A prototype for women behind bars pictures the film moves at a solid clip and packs a lot into its brief running time. They even find a chance to have Lillian Roth sing! Foster is a dull lead but the other players all contribute good work. Holds up well until the questionable denouncement.
  

  Super Reviewer
• May 29, 2012

  OK early prison drama featuring the stupidest romantic entanglement of the decade as gangster moll Stanwyck eventually falls for the clumsy long-distance charms of the religious politico who sent her to San Quentin for 2-5 years as accessory to robbery. "Have fun in the slammer, I'll be here when you get out." Riiiiiiiiiight. Barbara + some fun supporting characters help pass the time, and hey, it's the original women-in-prison flick and actually (sub)named "Women In Prison"!
  

  Super Reviewer
• Mar 06, 2011

  An enjoyably daft prison drama in which Barbara Stanwyck plays a career criminal who takes the fall for a bank robbery and ends up in San Quentin. Of course, all she needs is the love of a good moral crusader to keep her on the straight and narrow... It would be an understatement to say that the plot could have been worked out on the back of a cigarette packet; quite frankly, I'd be amazed if anybody troubled to write it down. It's also tempting to groan at the hoary old clichés till you realise that some of them were probably being minted here for the very first time. My favourite of several moments of unintentional hilarity is the one where two of Babs' associates attempt to tunnel through to her cell from the neighbouring men's prison and she disguises the racket they are making by playing loud music in the middle of the night. "How did such a criminal mastermind ever end up behind bars?" I hear you cry. Minor Stanwyck but her performance is as committed as ever.
  

  Super Reviewer