Search - Caged! on DVD

CAGED! The best women's prison picture ever made!

John Malanga | Pacifica, CA United States | 03/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Caged is a powerful and absorbing drama starring Oscar-nominated Eleanor Parker in the lead role. She delivers a complex and memorable performance as a young, pregnant prison inmate. Her Oscar competition in 1950 was staggering: Gloria Swanson for Sunset Boulevard, Bette Davis and Anne Baxter for All About Eve and the winner, Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday. Agnes Moorehead does an excellent job as a sympathetic but ineffectual warden, but the performance you will never forget goes to Oscar-nominated Hope Emerson, who dominates every one of her scenes as the cruel and sadistic prison matron. Lee Patrick appears as the a wealthy and influential prison inmate lusting for the Eleanor Parker character. Betty Garde, Jan Sterling, Gertrude Michael, Ellen Corby, Olive Deering and Jane Darwell are excellent in supporting roles. This is a memorable film which was shocking in it's time and still delivers a strong punch for today's audiences. I recently viewed the DVD and the picture and sound quality are excellent which adds to the viewing experience."

Come on you tramps, line up for Christmas!

W. Oliver | Alabama | 06/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's just one of the great lines from this fantastic women's prison film made in 1950 that amazingly has never been previously released. Eleanor Parker, giving the performance of her career, stars as Marie Allen, a timid and innocent 19-year old who is sent to prison after being charged as an accomplice in a minor robbery. The brutality of prison life will change her life forever. This is a stark film, both in content and style, with taut dialog and astute observations about harsh prison conditions, corrupt government officials and the emotional turmoil of people put in such situations. In addition to Parker, every performance is a stand-out. Hope Emerson is unforgettable as the evil prison matron, Betty Garde as an inmate who befriends and tries to protect Marie and Lee Patrick as Elvira Powell, an inmate with powerful outside connections all will leave an indelible memory for viewers. Even the bit parts are memorable - the wonderful Gertrude Hoffman, as older inmate Millie who sadly says, "I'm a tall weed in the grass and the grapevines bloomin', what I'd give for a sinkful of dirty dishes."



I've seen this film numerous times and every time I watch it I catch a line that I missed before. It is a film that holds up and a film that you won't soon forget."

It's about time!

A. M. Smith | RICHMOND, VA United States | 06/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw this film on the "late-late show" when I was 13 and it has stayed with me since (I'm 56 now). Along with "The Snake Pit" (set in a mental institution) it set the standard for so many "incarcerated women" films to follow, as well as for numerous parodies (most notably, the stage produciton, "Women Behind Bars." which featured Divine as the sadistic matron). For decades I've wondered why it has not been made available in video format. Better late than never. While there is certain camp aspect to it (broadly-drawn characters, some over-the-top acting), I agree that it should not be labeled a "camp classic." It's a classic, no modifier needed."

Excellent film!

robert campbell | nice, ca United States | 05/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous writers said it all! This is an excellent film. It is grim from start to finish, I don't understand why it is called a "camp classic", this film is far from camp. When Harper shaves Marie's hair off for punishment, and physically pushes her into the solitary cell, that is not camp by a long shot. That scene alone in itself, was very shocking and anyone who thought that was camp needs help! In one of Eleanor Parkers early interviews, she stated that it was her real hair being shaved off, and after the scene was done, it took her awhile to feel normal again, as she was so into the role. She remarked on how everyone got along so well with one another. She said Hope Emerson was such a wonderful woman, how they would all gather around the piano and sing songs. I enjoyed the scene where Harper is in her room, she kicks the radiator because her room is so cold, she goes and reaches underneath her mattress, and pulls out a bottle of booze. She takes a swig, and places it back underneath the mattress. The bell rings and she steps outside to turn on the lights in the bullpen, and she yells, "Pile out you tramps, this ain't no upstairs delicatessan, time for count!!!!" One scene, when the women go to chow, and are standing in front of their food at their eating tables, Harper blows a whistle for them to sit down, and another whistle blow for them to start eating. This scene is not in this DVD. TV prints had this scene edited also, last time I saw this scene was at a womens film festival in San Francisco, about 10 years ago. A good blooper in the film is when after the riot in the bullpen over a cat, Marie holds the cat and says "its dead" and you can see the cat still moving (wonder if they sedated it) In the 80's this film was remade as "Reform School Girls" the similarities are amazing, including the new "Harper". I am glad that this motion picture, considered one of the best women's prison films ever made, is finally seeing the light of day on DVD."