Ladies They Talk About [VHS]
by Howard Bretherton

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VHS Movie Reviews of Ladies They Talk About [VHS]

Movie Review: Barbara Stanwyck in early Tough Girl Prison Drama
Summary: 4 Stars

"Ladies They Talk About", based on a real life account, chronicles the story of Nan Taylor (Stanwyck) who when taking part in a bank holdup is caught out with her fake alibi and sentenced to do time in Women's San Quentin. Prior to her sentencing she runs into an old acquaintence from her home town David Slade (Preston Foster), a crusading evangelist who finds his childhood attraction to Nan reignited. He sets out to get Nan off the charge only to discover that she actually was part of the bank heist and is using him as a "stool pidgeon" to avoid jail. He then pushes for the full penalty of the law and soon Nan finds herself behind bars in San Quentin. Once in prison Nan is introduced to life on the inside where she makes friends with fellow prisoner Linda (Lillian Roth) and comes into conflict with prison toughie "Sister" Susie (Dorothy Burgess), who also has a thing for David Slade from afar. Contacted by the old gang about a prison breakout Nan manages to get copies of the layout of the female prison and assorted keys from trusting Warder Noonan (Ruth Donnelly) to aid in the break out from the men's section. Her two former buddies plan to to first break through into the women's section to engineer their escape. David Slade accidently posts a letter that Nan slips in his pocket during one of his visits to try and rekindle the romance with Nan , with the effect that the gang are apprehened and shot by the prison guards. Nan's feelings of revenge now against David run very deep and upon her final release she goes to one of David's revival meetings with a loaded gun determined to kill him. Once alone with David Nan only succeeds in injuring him and when he covers up the attempt by her on his life Nan finally sees that he does have her best interests at heart and realises the real love that is between them.

Vintage melodrama perhaps but "Ladies They Talk About", shows an honest and non sensational version of love and revenge without the Hays Office censorhip restrictions on such material that came into Hollywood in 1934. Here we see the prison system revealed in all its greyness, not just black and white. Prostitution, lesbian characters and mental illness are at least presented in the story however tame they might appear by today's standards. Barbara Stanwyck had certainly one of her best early roles in "Ladies They Talk About", playing the equally vengeful, tough and yet vulnerable Nan in an honest non showy way. Her redemption in the final scene while certainly melodramtic still has an honest ring to it because of Stanwyck's sure handling of the role. Preston Foster is fine as the do gooding David Slade who despises Nan's course in life while still finding himself drawn to her independance and no nonsense manner. The most memorable and colourful characters in the story are the actresses who play all the inmates of the female section of San Quentin. Maude Eburne, a veteran of countless classic films of the 1930's is unforgettable as "Aunt Maggie", the arm chair rocking overseer of all that takes place in the women's section. Dorothy Burgess as toughie "Sister" Susie and gifted character actress Ruth Donnelly as the kind hearted prison matron who foolishly befriends Nan prior to the breakout bid, also stand out in this memorable production. Being the 1930's of course the prison cells seem a little less grim than they possibly were in real prisons of the time and possibly some of the inmates do seem a bit too polished to be hardened criminials. However apart from those points "Ladies They Talk About", tells a non-sentimental story that packs alot of punches. The sterile environement of prison life while to an extent partly glamourised still gives us an insight into how those institutions were run.

Warner Brothers were famous for these types of productions and here they dont disappoint. While there have been more violent and vividly startling women's prison dramas produced by Hollywood, "Ladies They Talk About", is one of the better ones in this genre, combining an exciting story, great characters realistically portrayed and an excellent central performance by Barbara Stanwyck in the type of screen role early in her career she made her own. I highly recommend you see the pre-code story set behind bars in a women's prison in "Ladies They Talk About".

Movie Review: No Holds Barred Behind Bars
Summary: 4 Stars

While nobody's much of a "lady" here, I'm sure this is one flick you and your friends can talk about later.

Movie Review: SAUCY STANWYCK
Summary: 4 Stars

Movie Review: Stanwyck at her pre-code best.
Summary: 5 Stars

Classics Video

• Genres > Drama
• Mystery & Suspense > Crime > Prison Films