Caged is a fairly early example of a true Women in Prison film, long before that premise sprouted a whole subculture of exploitation cinema in the 1970s. It is just a melodrama, but it's not a bad one. It has many cheesy moments, but just enough complexity to chew on.

Loaded with cynicism and amazing cinematography. I never expected a "women in prison" movie to look this incredible. It's relentlessly bleak, and the only happy moments get squashed instantly. Hope Emerson is once again imposing as hell, but perhaps a bit over-the-top. Parker was a little trite and annoying at the beginning, but seems to settle in the role more convincingly as the character starts to toughen up. Overall, I have some reservations but in general I thought it was very powerful.

The best of the woman's prison pictures. A powerful film. This is worth seeing for Hope Emerson alone.