99 Women (1969): cast, story & where to watch
1969 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1969, 99 Women is a thriller and drama film directed by Jesús Franco, running about 99 minutes. “99 WOMEN... behind bars -- without men!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Jesus Franco's campy women's prison film is worthwhile for genre devotees primarily due to an outstanding cast. Mercedes McCambridge is unintentionally hilarious as sadistic lesbian warden Thelma Diaz, spitting tacky dialogue with exuberant venom in a performance so overbearing that it verges on classic. The plot is standard for the genre, as three women (Maria Rohm, Elisa Montes, Luciana Paluzzi) are sentenced to an island prison off the Panamanian coast, only to encounter torture, rape, and lesbianism. When sympathetic Warden Caroll (Maria Schell) replaces Diaz, the prisoners assume that conditions will improve, but their agony only worsens until they decide to escape. Rosalba Neri co-stars, and Herbert Lom runs the corrupt men's prison nearby. 99 Mujeres was heavily censored in various prints, with versions running anywhere between 70 and 108 minutes. Edits running 84, 86, and 94 minutes are most commonly available.
Who’s in it. 99 Women stars Maria Schell as Leonie Caroll, Herbert Lom as Governor Santos, Mercedes McCambridge as Thelma Diaz and Luciana Paluzzi as Natalie Mendoza, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, 99 Women has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and Midnight Pulp and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch 99 Women page.
If you liked it. Fans of 99 Women tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch 99 Women (1969)?
- In US, 99 Women is available to stream on YouTube TV and Midnight Pulp, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is 99 Women worth watching?
- 99 Women holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in 99 Women?
- 99 Women stars Maria Schell, Herbert Lom, Mercedes McCambridge, Luciana Paluzzi and Maria Rohm.
- When was 99 Women released?
- 99 Women was released in 1969, with a runtime of about 99 minutes.