Lady in a Cage
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Movie Reviews of Lady in a Cage
Movie Review: Intense Campy Fun
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie. It's sort of like a whacked-out version of "Panic Room." The DVD presentation looks very good. But come on Paramount, when are you going to start living up to the standards set by Warner Bros.? This film is crying out for a campy commentary, or a featurette, a trailer, something. We are all glad that this is finally available on DVD at a resonable price and that it looks so darn good, but start including Enhanced Content on your DVD releases. Please!!!Movie Review: Disturbing But Totally Engrossing Psychological Suspense Drama
Summary: 4 Stars
I had long wanted to see this much talked about film and actually went into it thinking it was simply going to be another in the extensive gallery of 1960's macabre efforts tailored towards the maturing actresses from the 1930's and 40's. What surprised me after my first viewing of it was that in most quarters this film is never given its due as the great suspense effort that it undoubtedly is. Olivia de Havilland I feel has rarely been better than in this most challenging role of an elderly woman recovering from a hip operation who becomes trapped in a lift in her home and becomes the caged victim of a number of very unsavory types who invade her home, terrorise her, and loot her possessions. Her character here is light years away from her most famous character of Melanie in "Gone with the Wind", and once again proves her quite extraordinary range as an actress. I feel you would be hard pressed to find an effort as gripping as "Lady in a Cage", proved to be and the stark black and white photography aided immensely in making this one of the best and most atmospheric of the film vehicles offered to mature actresses in the 1960's in the wake of the huge success two years earlier of 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?".
Olivia de Havilland plays wealthy widow Cornelia Hilyard, a possessive mother who finds herself alone in her large and sprawling home over a swelteringly hot holiday weekend. Recovering from hip surgery she uses a built in lift to get from the ground floor of her house to the upper floor and once her son Malcolm (William Swan) leaves he accidently causes a malfunction in the operation of the lift which causes Cornelia to become trapped like a caged animal 15 feet in the air. Crying for help in the deserted house her ringing of the alarm bell arouses the interest of local vagrant George (Jeff Corey) who enters the house and begins looting the contents including Cornelia's well stocked wine celler. Taking his load to the local pawn business his expensive items catch the attention of a gang of young delinquents headed by the sadistic Randall (James Caan), who begin to follow him. George alerts his friend blowsy prostitute Sade (Ann Sothern), to his potential windfall and the pair return to the house to steal what they can. However Randall and his gang close in on the pair and much to the trapped Cornelia's terror also invade the house and begin looting it. Randall proves to be an especially nasty type who begins to mentally torture Cornelia and very soon his small time thug behaviour turns to threats of murder against not only Cornelia but also George and Sade. The thugs threats take on an ugly reality when they murder George however Cornelia being the resourceful woman that she is begins to turn the tables on her tormentors. Managing to escape from her caged environment Cornelia attempts to crawl out of the house for help and in a violent confrontation with Randall manages to stab him in the eyes, blinding him. In this state he wanders out into the busy traffic in the street and is run over finally arousing the attention of passersby who then come to Cornelia's rescue and apprehend the other gang members as they attempt to escape with their loot.
What I guess surprised me the most about "Lady in a Cage", was the quite startling violence and brutality that was played out on screen which seemed to make this film very different to most of the studio product from this early 1960's period. Putting together actors as diverse as Olivia de Havilland and a very young James Caan shouldn't in theory really work however their teaming as absolute opposites here is an electric one. The film is adult enough also to bring in elements of an Oedipis complex between the two characters which appears quite ugly but adds wonderful new dimensions to both of their characters. Olivia de Havilland starts out in the story as the well heeled widow living her extremely well ordered life that includes domination of a son well past the age where he needs any protection, however once she becomes trapped and is the victim of the young group of thugs her character develops an amazing inner strength that makes her more than a match for the young people invading her home. It is some of de Havilland's best work from the later part of her career and she is expert at showing the fatigue and fear she experiences in her current helpless state. James Caan in one of his first film appearances is superb as the vicious hood who takes on more than he bargained for and he comes across as especially frightening in the scenes where his plans move from simple robbery to murder. Veteran actress Ann Sothern makes a welcome return to a more prominent film role in "Lady in a Cage", as the over the hill prostitute who gets into things way over her head. Like Olivia de Havilland, Sothern's old Hollywood training supports her perfectly here in the scenes where she turns from house robber to potential victim and her terror scene as she sees her old derelict mate killed by the youngsters is riverting. Atmosphere along with the strong central performances is one of the strong points of "Lady in a Cage". From its atmospheric black and white photography to elements like the depiction of the soaring temperature most evident in its effect on Olivia de Havilland's trapped character, the film doesn't stint in showing a very non glamourous look despite the setting of the Hilyard mansion being a very lavish and beautiful one. Written for the screen by Luther Davis who also produced, the dialogue is rough and often shocking and doesn't pull any punches which makes a viewing of "Lady in a Cage", a quite disturbing experience the first time around.
"Lady in a Cage", is most definitely an effort from the old school of Hollywood filmmaking with its meaty central female character having a dramatic field day but it interestingly combines a vivid blend of both old Hollywood, represented by Olivia de Havilland and Ann Sothern, together with the rising newer generation of Hollywood actors of the late 1960's as seen in James Caan. Having one's home invaded and having no power to stop it while being a witness to the carnage must be a terrifying situation to be in and "Lady in a Cage", really succeeds in building up that sheer terror and never lets up for one moment as the thug's agenda in the house changes from looting it for some quick cash, right through to cold blooded murder. It certainly is a favourite of mine among the great performances achieved by veteran Olivia de Havilland and Paramount have done a sterling job on restoring the movie beautifully for its much deserved DVD release. For non stop tension and nail biting suspense treat yourself to a screening of this 1960's suspense classic soon.
Movie Review: An extremely disturbing film.
Summary: 4 Stars
We have all heard the phrase "Man's inhumanity to man." It is one of those expressions that causes most of us to stop in our tracks and ponder how cruel people can be to each other. Open any newspaper or listen to any newscast and you are constantly astonished at the lengths to which some individuals will go to injure other people. "Man's inhumanity to man" is also a phrase that neatly sums up the theme of director Walter Grauman's eerie 1964 feature film "Lady In A Cage". Screen veteran Olivia de Havilland stars as Cornelia Hilyard, a wealthy widow who is recuperating from a devastating injury and is still struggling to regain her mobility. Unable to negotiate the stairs Cornelia must rely instead on a recently installed cage-like elevator to transport her between the two floors of her rather plush urban homestead. Cornelia is a conniving and domineering woman who has succeeded in smothering her only son Malcolm (William Swan). We learn that Malcolm is at his wits end and has finally summoned up the courage to request his share of the estate in a note to his mother. He intends to strike out on his own and leave his mothers clutches once and for all when he returns from a business trip. As the film opens, Malcolm asks his mother not to read the note he has written until after he has departed.
Through a rather unfortunate confluence of circumstances Cornelia is suddenly thrust into a disconcerting and potentially dangerous predicament. The power line leading into her house has been damaged and the electricity cut off. Our heroine suddenly finds herself trapped in a tiny elevator that resembles a prison cell roughly nine feet above the ground. To make matters worse it is going to be a hot and humid day in the city. At first Cornelia is not too concerned because she assumes that the power is out in the entire neighborhood and will be restored in short order. But as the hours pass she comes to the frightening realization that this is not the case at all. She is reluctant to use the emergency alarm for fear of making a spectacle of herself but as the temperature continues to climb she finally decides to trigger it. The problem is that no one responds to the alarm. The camera pans the street. We see a group of teenagers passing by in a convertible and workmen going about their daily business. Pedestrians walk by and a steady stream of traffic passes. Yet the alarm continues to clang and no one bothers to respond. Are people deliberately ignoring it or are they just so wrapped up in whatever it is they are doing? No matter. Now Cornelia is becoming increasingly desperate. Finally, she hears footsteps. Someone has come to rescue her! Not so fast. The person who has invaded her home is not there to help her. He is there to take advantage of her rather unfortunate situation. He is a derelict named George L. Brady Jr. (Jeff Corey) and he intends to scoop up as many of his victims valuables as possible. Cornelia is positively petrified. George ignores her impassioned pleas for help. Instead, he grabs a toaster and a couple of other items and makes haste for a nearby hock shop. But George has a big mouth and three punk teens led by one Randall Simpson O'Connor (James Caan) overhear him describing the situation at the Hilyard home. Sensing an opportunity to wreak havoc the teens follow George back to the house. These youngsters are bitter and violent and full of hatred and are seeking to wreak vengeance on someone, anyone. Spotting the terrified Cornelia in her cage they merely snicker at her predicament and threaten to kill her. Cornelia is flabbergasted at the events that are unfolding in her own home in front of her very eyes. "What kind of animals are these?" she wonders aloud. Be prepared to have your own faith in humankind challenged as you watch this film.
"Lady In A Cage" is a splendid psychological drama that features a compelling performance by Olivia de Havilland. Her role in this film would remind you a lot of Jimmy Stewart's character in Alfred Hitchcock's classic "Rear Window". With the camera fixed on her for a substantial portion of the film viewers are afforded a unique opportunity to examine up close and personal her facial expressions and body language as she reacts to what is taking place. We are all eyewitnesses to the full range of her emotions. Meanwhile in what is the first significant role of his motion picture career a very young James Caan is thoroughly convincing as a badass teen who has spent most of his life in state institutions. Devoid of love and people who really care about him Randall Simpson O'Connor is lashing out at everyone and everything around him. It just breaks your heart to see what has become of the lad. Just before the conclusion of the film one of the other teenagers discovers Malcolm's letter and reads it aloud to Cornelia. Confronted with her own egregious sins she suddenly realizes that in many ways she is really no better than the individuals who have invaded her home. I must warn you that "Lady In A Cage" contains several extremely disturbing scenes and can be quite depressing at times. But on balance "Lady In A Cage" is a film well worth seeing and was certainly way ahead of its time when it was first released back in 1964. Highly recommended!
Movie Review: Has achieved cult status following...Quentin Tarantino would have been proud of it...
Summary: 4 Stars
LADY IN A CAGE is a thriller that exploits the very subject matter it is trying to expose in such a grim manner. A wealthy lady (OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND) is recovering from a hip operation that forces her to use a self-operated "lift" in her home where she is surrounded by luxury items and a self-absorbed but orderly existence. She is exactly the sort of person unprepared for the invasion of a group of thugs who make her life a living hell when they intrude upon her household in the crudest possible way.
When the film first opened, it was received poorly by the film critics of the day who lambasted it for its graphic depiction of senseless violence and viewed it as no more than a cheap horror flick. However, the years have been kinder to it than anyone could have expected. Perhaps de Havilland was right when she judged that the film was "way ahead of its time" in dealing with this sort of subject matter because today it is much more highly regarded for what it is trying to say beneath the graphic brutality.
JAMES CAAN is the ruthless leader of the pack, obviously a delinquent of the first order who enjoys humiliating and playing mind games with the victimized woman in the cage. It is he who exposes her as a not very sympathetic woman who has smothered her son with affection to the point where he has left a suicide note addressed to her as "Darling". Caan's frank dialog is particularly rough here and his shoving around of the defenseless woman is not a pleasant sight to witness.
JEFF COREY overacts mercilessly as a vagrant with a thirst for any liquor he can get his hands on and ANN SOTHERN does an effective supporting role as a blowsy prostitute not above taking advantage of what looks to be a good situation. The less said about RAFAEL CAMPOS and JENNIFER BILLINGSLEY the better. Their overripe work is almost embarrassing at times.
It's obvious that Luther Davis was exposing the flaws in society that certainly came to the surface during the '60s, shortly before the Manson murders became widely known. The baby boomers of the drug generation certainly get their share of blame here.
Summing up: Not for the faint of heart, but a searing expose of certain societal ills in a not-too-subtle way. Olivia at least is highly convincing in what must have been an exhausting role to play and a most unusual one.
Movie Review: the clash of "old" and "new" Hollywood
Summary: 4 Stars
An intense and unnerving movie experience, LADY IN A CAGE is not for the faint-hearted. The story revolves around Mrs Cornelia Hilyard (Olivia de Havilland), a woman trying to peacefully recover from a hip-replacement within the confines of her home. On a very hot day, she becomes stuck in her elevator, and is terrorised by a group of criminals and hoods who break in.
Ann Sothern turns in a fabulous performance as Sade, a hard-bitten prostitute; whilst James Caan--in only his second film--seems to be channeling Brando as he plays the menacing gang leader Randall Simpson O'Connell. Jennifer Billingsley plays the vile gang moll, Elaine.
Olivia de Havilland is heartbreaking as the terrorised Mrs Hilyard. This was the second 'scream queen' role which she played in 1964 (the other is "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte"). In the wrong hands this material could have become melodramatic, but de Havilland always was a very truthful and instinctual actress, and the same is true for her performance here.
Whenever I watch LADY IN A CAGE, I'm always struck by the notion that it's the clash of "Old Hollywood" and "New Hollywood". By that, I mean that you have two of the great Hollywood women--Olivia de Havilland and Ann Sothern--clashing literally and physically with much younger actors for whom their movies and work would have meant absolutely nothing. This film was made on the cusp of changes within Hollywood, too. Shortly the MPAA ratings system would be set into place, allowing movies to go further than they had ever been allowed to in the past.
So much of this film is completely unsettling, particularly as this pre-dates the Manson killings (and this film features scenes which would eerily echo in reality).
Certainly no feel-good movie, but worthy of any classic film collection. The DVD sadly does not feature any extras.