Back in the 1930s and 40s, there were quite a few so-called 'poverty row studios'. These were small outfits with very small budgets...so small that they didn't even own studio space. Instead, they usually rented space in other studios at night...filming when the big studios were sound asleep. Many of these tiny outfits made lousy films...and perhaps the most consistently lousy was PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation). Sure, occasionally they made a decent film...but they seemed to be pretty much by accident! So, when I noticed that "Girls in Chains" was from PRC, I pretty much assumed it would be crap.
The story begins with sleazy gangter Johnny Moon murdering someone. In the next scene, he's in court for some murder--perhaps that one at the beginning or some other. Regardless, the jury finds him not guilty...and the judge lectures them about what horrible folks they are and he's baffled at how they could have said the man wasn't guilty despite overwhelming evidence.
In an odd plot twist, in the next scene, Johnny Moon's sister-in-law is fired because of her association with Johnny--though she hates who he is and what he stands for. Here's the odd part--some reformers help her get a job at the local women's prison, as they like her attitude and the place is desperate need of reform. Once there, she sees that the staff are indifferent towards the fates of the inmates...and the Warden is essentially employed by Johnny Moon! Can anything be done to clean up this festering mess?? And, will the women of this prison trust their new teacher or is she just like the rest? And why would a crook like Moon WANT to see the prisoners mistreated? Wouldn't he want them treated like princesses instead?!
According to IMDB, this film was shot in only five days--so there wasn't much room for re-shoots and making it a high quality product. Yet, despite this, the movie isn't nearly as bad as I expected. Now I am NOT saying it's great...but it sure looks better than a five-day film. And, its score of 4 is practically an Oscar win for PRC!!
By the way, the tough inmate who is first befriended by the teacher is played by Barbara Pepper. Pepper is better known as the lady who played the first Mrs. Zipfel on "Green Acres". Yes, that would make her Arnold's mom! And, Johnny's right hand man is played by Sid Melton...who played Al Monroe on the same show!
