Watch City Without Men
- NR
- 1943
- 1 hr 14 min
-
5.2 (170)
City Without Men is a 1943 drama film that revolves around the lives of the women in a prison located in a small town in America. Directed by Sidney Salkow and produced by Robert Sisk, the movie features an ensemble cast including Linda Darnell, Edgar Buchanan, and Michael Duane. The story begins with an incident in which a group of prisoners stages a revolt and take over the prison. In the ensuing chaos, the only man present in the prison, a doctor, is killed. The authorities decide to evacuate all the male prisoners to other facilities, leaving behind only the female inmates.
As days pass, the women try to cope with their newfound freedom and independence. They are now responsible for maintaining order and taking care of the day-to-day needs of the prison. The women form their own hierarchy and elect a new leader, Jean Marshall (Linda Darnell), a young and ambitious inmate.
Jean takes it upon herself to improve the living conditions in the prison and make life better for her fellow inmates. She implements strict rules and regulations and ensures that everyone follows them. Her strictness, however, puts her at odds with some of the other inmates, who feel that Jean is too harsh and authoritarian.
Meanwhile, the prison warden's wife, Mrs. Clifford (Sara Allgood), takes an interest in the women and starts to provide them with books and other forms of entertainment. She also helps Jean with her efforts to upgrade the facilities in the prison.
One day, a group of male prisoners is brought back to the facility to help with some repairs. At first, the women are wary of having men around, but they eventually start to warm up to them. Jean, however, remains suspicious of the men and their intentions.
As time passes, the women's newfound freedom and independence are threatened by outside forces. One of Jean's rivals, Kitty (Margaret Hamilton), starts to plot against her, while a new male doctor (Michael Duane) arrives at the prison, causing Jean to feel uneasy.
City Without Men is a compelling drama that explores the way in which women can become self-sufficient and thrive in the absence of men. The movie's themes of female empowerment and independence were particularly relevant at the time of its release, as World War II had forced women to take on new roles and responsibilities traditionally reserved for men.
Linda Darnell delivers a standout performance as Jean Marshall, a young woman determined to make the most of her time in prison and improve the lives of those around her. Darnell's portrayal of Jean is nuanced and layered, and she brings a real sense of authenticity to the role.
The movie's supporting cast is also excellent, particularly Sara Allgood as Mrs. Clifford, who provides a much-needed sense of humanity and empathy to the story.
Overall, City Without Men is a powerful and moving film that highlights the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity. Its themes are just as relevant today as they were nearly eighty years ago, making it a timeless classic that deserves to be seen by a new generation of moviegoers.
City Without Men is a 1943 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.