Reclusa

June Havoc (Molly X) heads up a gang in San Francisco that specializes in robbery. The gang includes John Russell (Cash) and Elliott Lewis (Rod), but Lewis has a girlfriend Dorothy Hart (Anne) who is suspicious of Havoc and her intentions towards Lewis. This female rivalry is Havoc's primary danger once she kills Lewis for previously shooting her husband. Havoc is arrested along with Russell in respect of their latest robbery, and while at the police station Charles McGraw (Breen) suspects Havoc's gang of the murder of Lewis, he needs the gun that fired the bullet in order to get a conviction. Havoc and Russell have hidden the gun and Dorothy Hart is determined to get Havoc sent to the gas chamber as she is convinced that Havoc is the one that killed her boyfriend. We follow Havoc and her time in jail, until one day, Hart turns up at the same institution with revenge firmly in her head, even though the murder has not yet been proved.

This film cracks along at a good pace. Quite a lot happens at the beginning in terms of robberies and the dialogue gets straight to the point. It's no-holds-barred kind of stuff, especially the dislike between Dorothy Hart and June Havoc. Unfortunately, the film quality is poor, and as much of the action at the beginning takes place at night, even though you know what the gist of the story is, you can't really see what is happening. This is a mark against the enjoyment of the film, I'm afraid - what's the point of staring at a screen on which you can't make out what is going on?

The overall acting isn't that good. June Havoc convinces in her tough girl role despite her glamour, while Dorothy Hart is way too glamorous in her prison scenes, yet she is entertaining whenever on screen. Charles McGraw doesn't have much screen time, but convinces whenever he is around. The majority of the film is set in the women's prison (where everyone seems to retain their Hollywood glamour but there is no lezzie action) and there is a twist at the film's finale that is just too convenient for words.