Ladies They Talk About

Released Feb 4, 1933

1h 9m

Drama

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Reviews

60%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

A district attorney feels a strong attraction for an imprisoned gun moll who rises to the top of the prison ladder.

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Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

thoroughly enjoyable despite a rather weak romantic storyline.

Dec 7, 2023

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

An early entry in the "women in prison" subgenre, this delightful pre-code crime picture makes the most out of Stanwyck's "bad girl" persona.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 6, 2022

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This film's only claim to fame was that it established the WIP genre film.

Rated: C-

Jun 11, 2007

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Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies

[Stanwyck is] absolutely stunning, and even if the rest of the film wasn't any good (although it was), she really made it worth watching.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2004

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Steve D

Not sure it would be worth it without Stanwyck, but it does have Stanwyck.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/07/23

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Audience Member

Ugh don't waist your time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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joe m

1st rate oldie with Stanwyck going to San Quentin as an accessory to bank robbery. Story is completely implausible but Stanwyck just hams it up the whole way!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

If you're not a Barbara Stanwyck fan, you should skip this movie. It's a pretty silly story, the scenes in prison are far too comfortable, and there are a couple of cringe-inducing, racist scenes showing African-Americans frightened as if they were stupid children. If you are a Barbara Stanwyck fan, however, you will probably like this movie at least enough to watch it, and perhaps as a guilty pleasure. She simply has an amazing screen presence, and it's fascinating to see her in the role of a streetwise criminal. She has scenes ranging from 'tough girl' to one hopeful for love and a second chance, and she goes all out in her anger in one scene towards the end, with spittle flying and really letting loose. Much is made of the lesbian reference in the prison ("she likes to wrestle", indicating a butch looking woman smoking a cigar), but it's a passing thing and made me smile, as did the old madam reminiscing about the men coming to her "beauty parlor" for "manicures". It's all pretty tame for a pre-Code film. Of her fellow actors, DeWitt Jennings stands out in the role of the detective who consistently sees through Stanwyck, but she's the one to watch the film for.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Barbara Stanwyck is a smart, tough dame...in prison! And the (female) prisoners are much more interesting/attractive than the (Christian) revivalists (who of course are prisoners outside of prison).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

Barbara Stanwyck is a woman sent to the big house for her part in a bank robbery. Once behind bars, all sorts of prison flim clichés occur, although by likely were not clichés when this pre-code female prison film was released. I'm always fascinated by pre-code Hollywood films and to see how much studios were able to get away with before the Hayes code went into place. Stanwyck is great in the lead, although the story is awfully silly and not nearly as hard hitting as it seems to think it is.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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William Keighley

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Nan Taylor

Preston Foster

David "Dave" Slade

Lyle Talbot

Gangster Don

Dorothy Burgess

"Sister" Susie

Maude Eburne

Aunt Maggie

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Synopsis

A district attorney feels a strong attraction for an imprisoned gun moll who rises to the top of the prison ladder.

Director: William Keighley
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 4, 1933, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 6, 2017
Runtime: 1h 9m

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