‘Caged!’ (1950) Blu-Ray Review – Top Tier Women-In-Prison Drama Puts Focus On Character

Eleanor Parker delivers an Oscar®-nominated performance as a girl swept into a petty crime–and a life behind bars–in this dramatic and realistic look at the effect that life inside prison has on a young woman. Marie Allen (Parker) becomes hardened by life inside a corrupt and dehumanizing penitentiary … until she reaches the point that she will do anything to survive the place and the life inside which she is Caged!

For thoughts on Caged!, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/Bx4vP5G81XY?t=309]

Video Quality

Caged! makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 4K scan of the Original Nitrate Camera Negative which completely dazzles. The black-and-white photography shot by Carl E. Guthrie has never looked better than it does in high definition with the natural grain intact. The contrast is mighty with a firm command of the gradients, and this new restoration does not leave even a trace of damage. Black levels are deep with no semblance of black crush, and the highlights avoid blooming. The encode on this one is tight with no unsightly digital junk in sight. It is unbelievable how much detail is present such as the textures on the prison uniforms and within the setting. This presentation shows off a tremendous amount of depth and enhanced detail within the cell block. Warner Archive exceeds their high bar of quality. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that fairs very well in every respect. The dialogue always comes through clearly as it plays well with the environmental noises of the prison. All the various sonic elements blend together for a cohesive experience. This track shows virtually nothing in the way of discernible age related wear and tear such as humming, distortion or drop outs. The Max Steiner score maintains a good fidelity with no obvious strain even in the higher registers. Warner Archive has provided a fantastic audio experience for audiences. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

• Radio Broadcast: An hour-long episode of the Screen Directors Playhouse which provides a radio adaptation of the story with Eleanor Parker and Hope Emerson returning in audio form to reprise their roles. 

• Big House Bunny: A seven-minute Looney Tunes short featuring Bugs Bunny accidentally doing some hard time. This amusing short is presented in gorgeous HD. 

• Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Caged! is one of the most effective “women in prison” films we have seen. The limitations in place due to the Hays Code does not hamper this one creatively in the least, as it forces the narrative to stand as the meal rather than run-of-the-mill titillation. The commentary of how men have ruined many of the lives of the women in confinement is impactful without drawing particular attention to itself. Even when the story does not completely surprise, your heart breaks for many of these characters, thanks in no small part to the stellar performances across the board. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that presents a terrific A/V presentation and a smattering of supplemental features. If the subject matter intrigues you, this is a drama that will not let you down. Recommended 

Caged! can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.