Review of Caged (1950) by Antonius B — 23 Aug 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.