Paid

Among the harridans and hard-timers in a women's prison, one inmate stands out like a diamond in a box of tarnished costume jewelry. She's Mary Turner, convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Once an innocent shop girl, now embittered by three years in the pen, Mary has big plans after her release. First she'll make a fortune running scams that stay just within the law. Then she'll seek revenge on the man who put her behind bars by marrying his guileless son. Joan Crawford got one of her earliest solid dramatic roles in Paid (Grand Hotel was one year in the future), and she made the most of it. Her trenchant portrayal of Mary -- tough and tender, smart and vulnerable -- makes this version of the often-filmed story a standout.