Prison Without Bars (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1938, Prison Without Bars is a drama, crime and romance film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, running about 77 minutes. “Women Without Men! - eager for life and love - turned into snarling animals - crying for revenge against a society that called them "bad"!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Suzanne, Renee, Nina and Marta all hate being in prison, being slapped and treated badly, and so all the girls are trying to escape. Madame Appel just causes chaos all the time, with her harsh manners. When Yvonne with her free-thinking ways is put in charge of the school for misbehaving girls, and asks them to tell her their complaints, they don't believe her at first. Yvonne is in love and about to marry the establishment's doctor, and it does not help that one teenage girl falls for him - and is corresponded. It's a hard life for the girls, and for the new female warden.
Who’s in it. Prison Without Bars stars Corinne Luchaire as Suzanne, Edna Best as Yvonne Chanel, Barry K. Barnes as Dr. Georges Marechal and Mary Morris as Renee, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Prison Without Bars has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Prison Without Bars page.
If you liked it. Fans of Prison Without Bars tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Prison Without Bars (1938)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Prison Without Bars change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Prison Without Bars worth watching?
- Prison Without Bars holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, crime and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Prison Without Bars?
- Prison Without Bars stars Corinne Luchaire, Edna Best, Barry K. Barnes, Mary Morris and Lorraine Clewes.