Still quite a looker here, the versatile Ida Lupino took on quite a interesting role here as the controlling superintendent of the women's section of a state prison. Men are next door, separated by only walls. She obviously has some mental issues as well, evidenced by an obvious hatred of her charges who have broken the rules of society which she now breaks in the sanctity of her own office. Not even the innocent newbee (Phyllis Thaxter), a housewife who accidentally killed a child while speeding (those women drivers!) can escape her non-empathy. Thaxter almost dies after Ida orders her to be strapped into a straight jacket and thrown into a rubber room.
Only the prison doctor (Howard Duff) seems to be on the side of the women behind bars, but that is doomed by Lupino's constant threats to report him for going against practically every order she makes. The sudden pregnancy of one of the girls (whose husband is conveniently tucked away in the men's prison) erupts the prison into violence when Ida's own vile temper (threatened with loosing her job) leaves the pregnant inmate in critical condition.
A superb cast supports Ida here, especially Jan Sterling and Cleo Moore as other inmates, and includes a few sympathetic moments from the prison guards (most memorably Mae Clarke) and an amusing anecdote from one of them commenting on the inconsistencies of women's prison movies which she likes to pick out. An over-the-top moment of camp involves an inmate who does uncanny impressions of Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and yes, Ida herself. Look closely for "Imitation of Life's" beloved Juanita Moore who plays a black inmate unfortunately reduced to singing "Swing Low, Swing Chariot" while scrubbing the floor, an unlikely detail for 1955.
Only the prison doctor (Howard Duff) seems to be on the side of the women behind bars, but that is doomed by Lupino's constant threats to report him for going against practically every order she makes. The sudden pregnancy of one of the girls (whose husband is conveniently tucked away in the men's prison) erupts the prison into violence when Ida's own vile temper (threatened with loosing her job) leaves the pregnant inmate in critical condition.
A superb cast supports Ida here, especially Jan Sterling and Cleo Moore as other inmates, and includes a few sympathetic moments from the prison guards (most memorably Mae Clarke) and an amusing anecdote from one of them commenting on the inconsistencies of women's prison movies which she likes to pick out. An over-the-top moment of camp involves an inmate who does uncanny impressions of Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and yes, Ida herself. Look closely for "Imitation of Life's" beloved Juanita Moore who plays a black inmate unfortunately reduced to singing "Swing Low, Swing Chariot" while scrubbing the floor, an unlikely detail for 1955.