Caged (1950)

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Virginia Kellogg (screenplay)
Virginia Kellogg (story)
(more)

Release Date:

19 May 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Will she come out a woman or a wildcat?

Plot:

A naive nineteen year old widow becomes coarsened and cynical when she is sent to a woman's prison and is exposed to hardened criminals and sadistic guards.

Plot Keywords:

Bribery | Nice Girl In Prison | Prison Matron | Felon | Cafeteria

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Eleanor Parker	...	Marie Allen
Agnes Moorehead	...	Ruth Benton
Ellen Corby	...	Emma Barber
Hope Emerson	...	Evelyn Harper
Betty Garde	...	Kitty Stark
Jan Sterling	...	Smoochie
Lee Patrick	...	Elvira Powell
Olive Deering	...	June
Jane Darwell	...	Isolation Matron
Gertrude Michael	...	Georgia Harrison
Sheila MacRae	...	Helen (as Sheila Stevens)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Baxter	...	Jeffries (uncredited)
Guy Beach	...	Mr. Cooper (uncredited)
Don Beddoe	...	Commissioner Walker (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Lovyss Bradley	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Jean Calhoun	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Claudia Cauldwell	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Davison Clark	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Pauline Creasman	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Marjorie Crossland	...	Cossie (uncredited)
Jane Crowley	...	Matron (uncredited)
Evelyn Dockson	...	Matron (uncredited)
Pauline Drake	...	Doctor's Wife (uncredited)
Marlo Dwyer	...	Julie (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Virginia Engels	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Barbara Esback	...	Matron (uncredited)
Edith Evanson	...	Miss Barker (uncredited)
Sandra Gould	...	Skip (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Laundryman (uncredited)
Grayce Hampton	...	Woman (uncredited)
Grace Hayes	...	Mugging Matron (uncredited)
Frances Henderson	...	Woman (uncredited)
Gertrude Hoffman	...	Millie (uncredited)
Taylor Holmes	...	Senator Donnolly (uncredited)
Esther Howard	...	Grace (uncredited)
Bill Hunter	...	Guard (uncredited)
Hazel Keener	...	Matron (uncredited)
Doris Kemper	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Margaret Lambert	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Gracille LaVinder	...	Visiting Room matron (uncredited)
Marie Melish	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Tina Menard	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Charles Meredith	...	Chairman (uncredited)
Joan Miller	...	Claire (uncredited)
Frances Morris	...	Mrs. Foley (uncredited)
Helen Mowery	...	Woman (uncredited)
Eva Nelson	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Joyce Newhard	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Rosemary O'Neil	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Ezelle Poule	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Gladys Roach	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Naomi Robison	...	Hattie (uncredited)
Yvonne Rob	...	Elaine (uncredited)
Carole Shannon	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Lynn Sherman	...	Ann (uncredited)
Queenie Smith	...	Mrs. Warren (uncredited)
Helen Spring	...	Woman (uncredited)
Eileen Stevens	...	Infirmary Nurse (uncredited)
Sheila Stuart	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Nita Talbot	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Wanda Tynan	...	Meta (uncredited)
Ann Tyrrell	...	Edna (uncredited)
Harlan Warde	...	Dr. Ashton (uncredited)
Ruth Warren	...	Miss Lyons (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Ada's Father (uncredited)
June Whipple	...	Ada (uncredited)
Doris Whitney	...	Woman Visitor (uncredited)
Marjorie Wood	...	Matron (uncredited)
Peggy Wynne	...	Lottie (uncredited)

Directed by
John Cromwell

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Virginia Kellogg		screenplay
Virginia Kellogg		story "Women Without Men"
Bernard C. Schoenfeld		story "Women Without Men"

Produced by
Jerry Wald	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Carl E. Guthrie		(as Carl Guthrie)

Film Editing by
Owen Marks

Art Direction by
Charles H. Clarke

Set Decoration by
G.W. Berntsen

Makeup Department
Myrl Stoltz	....	hair stylist
Ed Voight	....	makeup artist
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Mattison	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Stanley Jones	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Herschel Brown	....	grip
Lou Jennings	....	camera operator
Vic Johnson	....	gaffer (as Victor Johnson)

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Jean Baker	....	script supervisor
Doris Whitney	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Fang Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In an early example of product placement, Snickers, Mason Mints, and Life-Savers are clearly visible when Harper opens the drawer in her room.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Marie Allen announces that her kitten has died, the cat opens its mouth.

Quotes:

Millie: I'm a tall weed in the grass and the grapevines bloomin'.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005)

Absolutely the best women in prison film made!!!

This film, of the genre, women in prison, or incarcerated.... is the best.. I cant understand why its not available on VHS or DVD !!!?? Brilliant performances by Eleanor Parker, Agnes Moorehead, and especially, Hope Emerson, as the prison matron... were all outstanding!! Parker & Emerson were Oscar nominated, and in a year (1950) which gave us, "All About Eve" , "Sunset Blvd", and others, that was no easy feat!!...Parkers beauty and innocence gave the film its sensitivity & vulnerability... Moorehead was also outstanding (as always) but Emerson defined the role of prison matron.. forever!!.wow what a monster....!!! what a performance.. !!watch for the lesbian moments as Emerson attempts to control the "girls" esp. Parker.. Nice moments by Gertrude Hoffmann (later Mrs Odettes in TVs "My Little Margie",) as the older inmate.... and the entire cast... a gem... dont miss.... and please reissue on video......