GIRLS IN CHAINS

(director/writer: Edgar G. Ulmer; screenwriter: Albert Beich; cinematographer: Ira H. Morgan; editor: Charles Henkel Jr.; music: Leo Erdody; cast: Arline Judge (Helen Martin), Roger Clark (Frank Donovan), Robin Raymond (Rita), Barbara Pepper (Ruth), Dorothy Burgess (Mrs. Peters), Clancy Cooper (Marcus, school superintendent), Allen Byron (Johnny Moon), Jean Moon (Patricia Knox), Sidney Melton (Pinkhead), Russell Gaige (Dalvers), Emmett Lynn (Lionel Cleeter); Runtime: 75; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Peter R. Van Duinen; Producers Releasing Corporation; 1943)
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“The real stars of the film are those beehive hairdos sported by the gals.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Edgar G. Ulmer (“St. Benny the Dip”/”The Naked Dawn”/”Bluebeard”) directs this preachy grade-Z cheapie crime drama. This is one of his weaker film; the screenplay by Ulmer and Albert Beich seems bound in chains.

Helen Martin (Arline Judge) is the dedicated school teacher who gets canned because her sister Jean (Patricia Knox) is the gun moll married to crime boss Johnny Moon (Allen Byron). When Helen confronts Jean to leave town with her and start over, sis rejects the offer and Helen decides to accept the offer to teach school in a girls’ reformatory in town. With the help of detective Frank Donovan (Roger Clark), Helen works to get evidence against Johnny Moon to make a court conviction stick this time and also uncovers that the school superintendent (Clancy Cooper) is a crook working with the crime boss.

The real stars of the film are those beehive hairdos sported by the gals. It’s worth checking out this flick only to catch those ‘dos,’ the comic relief shtick of Emmett Lynn as a drunk and the tough juvenile delinquent gal talk in the reformatory.

REVIEWED ON 4/19/2007 GRADE: C-   https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/