Above: a photo featuring Barbara Nichols, gun-toting Shirley Knight, and crafts-ready Constance Ford, made for the 1962 prison movie House of Women. Why does Ford have knitting needles? This probably comes as a surprise to most of you (or maybe we're underestimating knowledge of the prison system, considering one of every five prisoners on the planet are in jail in the U.S.), but in certain American jurisdictions, as well certain places internationally, very young children can live with their mothers in prison. House of Women deals with that strange reality, and makes for an unusual and interesting promo shot. 

These two posters were painted by Sandro Symeoni for the Italian release of Rivolta al braccio d, which was originally made in the U.S. and released there as House of Women. The movie isn't lesbian sexploitation, despite what the poster portrays. It's actually a serious if b-budget black and white drama dealing with female felons and their children who are housed on site with them until age three. At that point the kids are sent to foster care or the women are paroled, whichever is appropriate. Thus the fear of losing their children is always a worry, and that of course comes to the fore when a cruel new warden takes charge of the prison. But is he cruel really? Or is it that he's just lonely and wants the right slinky feloness to thaw his heart? We won't go so far as to recommend Rivolta al braccio d, but we'll admit it's far better than it has any right to be. It premiered in Italy today in 1962.

The above shot shows American actress Carolyn Komant doing her part for either world hunger or cultural food awareness (the smile and chef's hat make us suspect the latter) for the United Nations in 1961. A former beauty pageant winner, Komant was familiar with public appearance work and was also Queen of the 34th annual Newball Saugus Rodeo, and Miss Safety Check for Burbank, California in 1961. She parlayed her recognition into regular television roles between 1959 and 1961, and one film role, a bit part in 1962’s House of Women, before marrying and giving up show business.