Hell Behind the Bars (1984)

An Italian WIP film that is basically the same as Hell Penitentiary (1984) - using the same basic cast, wardrobe and set.  Roger Corman did the same with with The Big Doll House (1971) and Women in Cages (1971) but at least had the good sense to use different directors to changes things up a little.

 Conchita (Ajita Wilson) is an unlikable murderous jewel thief who gets busted and sent to prison.  Usually, in WIP films the central character is innocent and framed.  Not this time.

 Just as in Hell Penitentiary (1984), the prisoners dress like they're going to the mall.  As they hang around the prison yard, we get some good shots of eighties fashion.  Much more to come.

 Terry (Linda Jones) gets into a prolonged cat fight.

 The fight goes on for a while, with the camera ogling up the girls' dresses.

 The other prisoners watch, dressed in fashions from Benetton and Merry Go Round.

 The shower scene seems to be cut and pasted from Hell Penitentiary; or the other way around as I don't know which was filmed first.

 Rita Silva reprises her role as the sadistic warden.

 Terry is chained up and electrocuted.

Next, the warden sticks something up Terry's butt.

Sandra (Leda Simonetti) has relations with the warden.  Man, they didn't even try to change this up - as these two actresses did the same thing in the other movie.

The warden also has a thing with Robert the Guard (Alessandro Freyberger)

The ladies plot their escape.  

To be quite honest, this is the only enjoyment I got out of the film - the intensely eighties fashions.  It's like a suburban mall fashion show from 1984, and I loved it.

A new crop of prisoners are brought in, including Aperio Bella Olivia in the red skirt.

Both Terry and Conchita make their moves on their new cellmate.

 "Stop. Your'e smushing my face."

 Another rad fashion show.

Enrica Saltutti holds Conchita hostage.  I have to say this: I don't like Ajita Wilson.  Why they continually made her the star actress of so many WIP is beyond me.  I'll leave it to you to determine why Ajita is, let's just say, not your average sexploitation starlet.

The big bust-out finally goes down.  The warden is shot.

 The ladies watch while the warden rolls down the stairs.

 Part of their big plan involves stowing away in caskets.  

 They remove the warden, and Terry gets in.

Conchita stabs Terry to death.

Aperio Bella Olivia laughs because she's pulled a fast one on Conchita; and she ends up on the winning end of this whole affair. THE END

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Man, that was terrible.  You would think that it would at least be equal to its carbon copy, Hell Penitentiary, but it's significantly worse.  The story is sparser, the erotic elements taken down a few notches, and Ajita Wilson has a more prominent role. Awful.

For a list of all the Women In Prison (WIP) films covered on Video Zeta One, click the image. 

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆