Who doesn’t love a good teeth grinding ‘Women in Prison’ movie! I know I can’t resist. And so I thought I’d pay a little tribute to two fabulous guilty pleasures of mine starring actress/director Ida Lupino!
The incredible Ida Lupino
I’ll go further in depth as to Ida Lupino’s extraordinary contributions to film and television when I do the full post!
The first film Women’s Prison 1955 is a taut Prison Film Noir piece starring the ineffable Ida Lupino who gives a stunning portrayal of a brutally sadistic prison warden Amelia van Zandt who holds sway over these chained women, slowly exposing herself to be a psychotic, as she institutes her savage brand of rehabilitation!
The film stars Jan Sterling as Brenda Martin
Phyllis Thaxter (One of my favorite character actresses)as Helene Jensen a nice girl in prison on the verge of an irreversible nervous breakdown!
Juanita Moore as Polly Jones
Mae Clarke as Matron Saunders
and Lupino’s real life husband Howard Duff as the sympathetic Dr. Crane and Warren Stevens as Glen Burton the man who can’t keep his mitts off his fellow inmate wife!
“Sensational scandal rocks women’s prison!“
Women’s Prison (1955)
Then once again…now in that glorious made for tv color!!!!!!
Lupino reprises her role as the equally brutal Claire Tyson in THE ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK !!!!!!!
The film stars 70s tv and drama staples Lois Nettleton , Jessica Walter, and Belinda Montgomery
Lois Nettleton plays parole officer Sally Porter who goes undercover to expose prison brutality at the hands of the vicious matron Clair Tyson! The film also stars Neile Adams, Hazel Medina, Kathy Cannon, BarBara Luna and the great Lucille Benson.
Women in Chains (1972) tv movie
Also coming here at the Drive-In Part 2 of Screaming Mimi and MonsterGirl Asks Film Scholar Aviva Briefel