Roger Corman Collection 3: Escape from Prison (2010)

Infinity and Hollywood Select Video have released a three-disc, five-movie DVD box set of vintage, hard-to-find women-in-prison titles. Sadly, though some of them are historically interesting, none of them are particularly good. First and foremost is Women in Cages (1971), which is a prototype for the entire genre, starring Pam Grier as the evil warden. Grier would go on to star in two better "women-in-prison" movies, The Big Doll House and The Big Bird Cage. Next up is Roger Corman's Swamp Women (1955), which follows roughly the same formula, but without the nudity and violence, making it a dull slog indeed. Thirdly is The Hot Box (1972), which is notable for its screenplay and producer credits by future Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme. The Hot Box takes place in South America, and it has a political angle, as a band of revolutionaries kidnaps four nurses to serve their cause.

The other two titles, High School Big Shot (1959) and The Big Bust Out (1973), are less interesting. Quality ranges from OK to terrible, and the words "Hollywood Select Video" are etched on the screen throughout each movie.