Caged Heat (also known as Renegade Girls) is a 1974 American women-in-prison film written and directed by Jonathan Demme, in his directorial debut. It stars Juanita Brown, Roberta Collins, Erica Gavin, Ella Reid, Rainbeaux Smith, and Barbara Steele. John Cale wrote and performed its soundtrack music, which features the guitar playing of Mike Bloomfield.
The film was produced independently and distributed by New World Pictures, headed by Roger Corman. It premiered on October 30, 1974. Retrospective reviews of Caged Heat have been generally positive, noting Demme's strong direction and the film's social commentary and feminist themes.
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Plot
In Los Angeles, undercover police officers arrive at a motel where those inside, including Jacqueline Wilson, are trafficking illegal drugs. During the escape, an officer and one of Jacqueline's accomplices are shot, while two of them escape. Jacqueline is arrested and sentenced to 40 years inside a women's correctional prison for possession of illegal drugs and attempted murder.
Upon her arrival, Jacqueline is strip searched and dines with her fellow inmates inside the cafeteria. The next morning, the inmates are transferred to Connorville Correctional Institute for Women, under the control of Superintendent McQueen. There, they are treated to a drag show but McQueen leaves in disgust. The next morning, McQueen reprimands Belle and Pandora, two of the inmates who organized the drag show. McQueen punishes Pandora with solitary confinement after discovering a photograph of her boyfriend inside her cell.
