Betrayed Women * (1955, Carole Mathews, Beverly Michaels, Peggy Knudsen, Tom Drake, Sara Haden, John Dierkes, Esther Dale) – Classic Movie Review 13,904

‘Women in Solitary! The girls who take the rap for the big shots of crime!’ Allied Artists‘ 1955 American black and white crime film Betrayed Women stars Carole Mathews, Beverly Michaels, Peggy Knudsen, and Tom Drake.

‘Women in Solitary! The girls who take the rap for the big shots of crime!’

Director Edward L Cahn’s 1955 American crime film Betrayed Women is a rather humdrum, obvious and unconvincing thriller, with jailed Honey Blake (Beverly Michaels) breaking from prison with Kate Morrison (Carole Mathews), while warden Head Matron Mrs Ballard (Esther Dale) and young attorney Jeff Darrell (Tom Drake) are kept hostage.

Ah, yes, ‘Female Devil’s Island… the place nobody knows except the girls nobody wants!’ For all its lack of quality and credibility, Betrayed Women is, however, sneakily enjoyable as a trashy exploiter. The actors go for it lustily and campily. It could even be a guilty pleasure.

It starts when the governor appoints the young attorney to open an investigation on the cruelties reported on the inmates of the Bayou Reformatory For Women. The investigation is opposed by Mrs Ballard (Esther Dale), whose moronic brother, Cletus (John Dierkes), keeps the prison bloodhounds. Peggy Knudsen plays Nora Collins, once engaged to Darrell (Tom Drake), jailed after stealing to protect her brother, who hates the prison methods and the brutal head guard Darcy (Sara Haden). Honey Blake and Kate try to use Cletus in an unsuccessful escape attempt, then try again with Jeff, Nora and Mrs Ballard as hostages. John Damler plays Kate’s gangland lover Joe Mabry, who learns about the escape and rushes to the place where Kate had hidden $50,000.

The film was released was released in a double bill with Mau Mau on July 17, 1955, by Allied Artists Pictures.

Cast: Carole Mathews as Kate Morrison, Beverly Michaels as Honey Blake, Peggy Knudsen as Nora Collins, Tom Drake as Jeff Darrow, Sara Haden as Darcy, John Dierkes as Cletus Ballard, Esther Dale as Mrs Ballard, G Pat Collins as Hostage Guard, Paul Savage as Baby Face, Darlene Fields as Mrs Mabry, John Damler as Joe Mabry, Burt Wenland as Guard, Pete Kellett as Guard.

Betrayed Women is directed by Edward L Cahn, runs 70 minutes, is made by William F Broidy Productions, is released by Allied Artists Pictures, is written by Steve Fisher, is shot in black and white by John Martin, is produced by William F Broidy, and is scored by Edward J Kay.

Prolific producer William F Broidy’s brother, Steve Broidy, became head of Allied Artists Productions. William F Broidy started up his own production company in 1951 and released most of his films through Allied Artists where his brother Steve was president.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,904

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