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The ultimate women-in-prison film, ‘Chicago’ features a stellar cast and a jail full of beautiful, seductive murderers - not to mention a certain infamous pair of cabaret-dancing ex-convicts, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. 'Chicago' is a cinematic and musical classic, with a wealth of clever moments and compelling scenes - and our all-time winner of prison-girl flicks. Click through to see other prison movies that will make you laugh, cry, and love your freedom.![Hold_Your_Man_1]()
In this Clark Gable and Jean Harlow classic, a cynical woman and two-faced con man end up in an unlikely romance - until he accidentally kills a man, and she gets framed for the crime and sent to jail. The movie's climactic scene shows the values of another time: Gable's hero accepts imprisonment in order to marry his pregnant girlfriend, choosing jail time over his child's illegitimacy.![Caged_1]()
'Caged' was the first big women-in-prison film, and it's as tragic now as it was then. There's the standard cruel matron and bullying fellow inmates, but this film's innocent young heroine gets an especially rough break when she is forced against her will to give her baby up for adoption. The film has all the angst and heartache of the sappiest of soap operas.![Caged_Heat]()
There is just nothing classy about this over-the-top exploitation film. Its tagline promises 'rape, riot and revenge', and 'Caged Heat' sure delivers. The film is as full of liberal politics as it is of scantily-clad women and R-rated content. This one's not for the kids, but it's as campy and crazy as anyone could ask for.![The_Shawshank_Redemption_1]()
Perhaps the greatest of all prison movies, Shawshank is far from being the first movie to feature an innocent man imprisoned, abusive guards, or a daring escape. But it takes these prison-movie clichés and perfects them. Deep themes run through it – themes of love and hate, of the life-saving power of education and the corruption that absolute power brings. This movie is at once transforming and unforgettable.![The_Blues_Brothers_1]()
If you haven’t had a good laugh in a while, have we got a treat for you with this film. “Blues Brothers” is a cult classic, a Chicago-land homage and a treasure-trove of quotable lines. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and run, don’t walk, to the nearest video store and rent it today.![My_Cousin_Vinny_1]()
'My Cousin Vinny' is a hilarious good time, with an Academy Award-winning cast and a series of screwball antics. This classic comedy can't be beat for a ridiculously funny prison movie.![Stalag_17_1]()
'Stalag 17' is the story of a group of American POWs who come to realize that one of their group is a traitor to the German captors. More of a mystery movie and psychological thriller than a melodrama, there are so many reasons to love 'Stalag 17': the cleverness and courage of the POWs, the drama of a secret traitor, the mystery to solve and the escape attempts to cheer for.![O Brother, Where Art Thou?]()
If you ever needed proof that a prison movie could be funny, this film’s got you covered. ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ is loosely based on Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey.’ It’s half the epic with ten times the laughs. Not only does ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?' offer plenty of laughs and an endless store of great quotes, it also has a fabulous musical score with its award-winning soundtrack.![The_Green_Mile]()
Good luck keeping a dry eye during this beautiful film about the guards on Death Row after a new inmate joins them - a gentle giant with strange gifts. Tom Hanks gives a great performance and the film leaves you with a head full of questions.Great Prison Movies
What is it about prison movies? Law-abiding citizens love them, even if we've never glimpsed the inside of a prison cell. Maybe it's the taste of forbidden fruit we get from entering the world of criminals, or maybe it's our desire to see justice done. If you're in the mood, here are some of the best prison movies ever made.
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- Great Prison Movies
