Prison Pictures from Hollywood

Book excerpt: Pile out, you tramps. It's the end of the line, begins Caged, a remarkable on-screen study of women behind bars released by Warner Bros. in 1950.The well-defined conventions of this picture and almost 300 others in the prison film genre are examined. Four subgenres emerge: sociological studies (e.g., I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, 1932), raucous comedies (Stir Crazy, 1980), black action pictures (Riot, 1968) and exploitation entries (Chained Heat, 1983).Comprehensive cast/character and technical listings and an essay blending synopsis, contemporary review quotes, production details with costs and analysis are given for each feature. Fully indexed.