Prior to the Hays' Code, there were a slew of movies in the early 1930s about women's prisons. These movies were fun to watch because it gave dramatic opportunities to actresses, and it showed grit and violence in contrast to the typical feminine image. While in Paid, Joan Crawford starts the movie facing a prison sentence, she's only shown entering the prison. The rest of the movie focuses on her revenge upon her release.
After three years in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Joan's great revenge scheme is to find the man who set her up, Purnell Pratt, and marry into his family. His innocent, trusting son, Douglass Montgomery, falls easily into her trap, but what happens if Joan starts to develop feelings for her husband? And what happens if Purnell doesn't take her revenge lying down and tries to send Joan back where she belongs?
I really like the beginning of the film, and Joan's horror at being sent to prison was very believable. She refuses to raise her head for her mugshot and feels humiliated at being forced into the group shower. I would have preferred more of the film show the terrible prison life, because once she got released, my interest dwindled.
After three years in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Joan's great revenge scheme is to find the man who set her up, Purnell Pratt, and marry into his family. His innocent, trusting son, Douglass Montgomery, falls easily into her trap, but what happens if Joan starts to develop feelings for her husband? And what happens if Purnell doesn't take her revenge lying down and tries to send Joan back where she belongs?
I really like the beginning of the film, and Joan's horror at being sent to prison was very believable. She refuses to raise her head for her mugshot and feels humiliated at being forced into the group shower. I would have preferred more of the film show the terrible prison life, because once she got released, my interest dwindled.