Back in the 1970s, TV was a lot cleaner and nicer than TV today. Cursing was allowed, finally, but only just a bit. And many topics still were very taboo in this decade. However, "Cage Without a Key" managed to push these boundaries about as much as the network would allow...perhaps even a bit more. There's cursing...but also more than the typical amount of violence and even an attempted lesbian rape scene. Amazingly saucy stuff for the time. Now this is NOT to say this is just some cheap exploitation film...it is an awfully good made for TV film.
The film stars Susan Dey of "The Partridge Family". This was an excellent choice because she had such a girl next door look--and seeing her going to a tough juvenile prison was pretty shocking! When the film begins, Valerie (Dey) accepts a ride from a guy who ends up being a sociopathic drug user. He's crazed and dangerous and soon kills someone during a holdup...and says Valerie was his willing participant. In reality, she was scared to death of the guy and he threatened her....but the judge believes his story...that she was his partner in crime. So, she's sent to prison. While they don't call it prison and it has nice trappings, the place is still a prison--with some very dangerous and horrible inmates who are intent on destroying Valerie. Can she somehow be saved before it's too late?
The film is a great plea for change in reform schools. Many of the folks running the place are idiots and no real attempt is made to weed out the rehabilitatable from the scum of the earth. Well worth seeing, very well written and quite convincing.
