Perguntas frequentes

Sent to the penitentiary for being an accessory to an armed robbery committed by her husband, naïve and pregnant 19-year old Marie Allen (Eleanor Parker) strives hard to follow the rules and not be swayed by cruel matron Evelyn Harper (Hope Emerson) or inmates such as Kitty Stark (Betty Garde) who offers Marie a job as a booster (shoplifter) once she makes her parole. After she is denied parole, however, Marie decides to turn her life around... and not in the right direction.

Caged is based on 'Women Without Men', a story by former L.A. Times reporter Virginia Kellogg, who had herself incarcerated in order to do research for the film. Kellogg and Bernard C. Schoenfeld adapted Kellogg's story for the screenplay.

Only recently married, Marie and her husband Tom were financially strapped. While stopped for gas, Marie waited in the car, and Tom went inside the station. He robbed the attendant of $40, but the attendant hit him over the head. Marie went inside to help and got arrested as an accomplice. Tom died.

Marie is granted parole at her next hearing due to the fact that Kitty has gotten her a 'job' outside. When she checks out with the intake matron, she is given $30.12 for 502 days of work at .06 cents a day. Her wedding ring is also returned to her, but Marie tosses it in the wastebasket, thanks the matron for the haircut, and walks out. In her outgoing interview with Warden Ruth Benton (Agnes Moorehead), Benton admits that she knows the job is just a 'blind' and wonders why Marie didn't wait for her parole officer to get her an honest job that would have given her self-respect and decency. 'Where did those things ever get me?' Marie retorts. From now on, what's in it for me is all that matters.' They shake hands, and Marie wishes Benton luck with her attempts to reform the prison. As Marie heads out the door, she turns back to say, 'For that 40 bucks Tim and I heisted, I certainly got myself an education.' Marie then leaves the prison. Once outside the front gate, she is picked up by several men, and they drive off together. In the final scene, Benton stands at her office window watching Marie leave. 'What shall I do with her file?' the secretary asks. 'Keep it active,' Benton replies. 'She'll be back.'