Lady in a Cage
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Movie Reviews of Lady in a Cage
Movie Review: Lady in a Cage
Summary: 4 Stars
Lady in a Cage is a refreshing entry
into the B&W horror genre of the 60's.
I've always been a fan of Olivia de Havilland
so as I was reading the description and reviews
I wasn't sure if I really wanted to see this film.
Even while knowing that she's a great actress
it was hard for me to imagine her in such a bizarre role.
I was happy to see that she gave an excellent performance.
Unlike other movies of the genre, "Lady in a Cage" comes
off classy and refined, in spite of the violent subject matter.
There are no unconvincing actors to be found and the
suspense level puts this movie right on par with Hitchcock.
In fact, I was most suprised at how suspenseful this was
because the general plot description sounded so basic. Great
acting and creative cinematography puts the movie at the
helm of the genre.
The movie begins with a deceptively wholesome opening reminiscent
of a 1950's family sitcom and it actually never loses that feeling;
however, characters enter, plunder, and exit the home, thus providing
the action and suspense. At times, De havilland's overly
dramatic acting delivery seems a little contrived, but it's
the same style that won her two Oscars. Upon closer
examination one can see how her Puritan
character creates a glaring contrast to the
brutal juveniles, the repentant alcholic thief, and
the opportunistic female hustler. It's this contrast
that sets the scene for a heightened suspense factor.
This movie is great for purchase or rental. It's guaranteed
to provoke an endless range of emotions in the viewer.
Movie Review: Fear And Loathing In L.A.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one hell of a mean-spirited, people-loathing movie. This is the kind of movie John Waters wishes he could make. Negative, negative, negative... vicious... every character is a monster.
"Lady In A Cage" is clearly the vision of its producer/writer, Luther Davis. He has an agenda the size of Los Angeles, and he piles it on high, for nerve-wracking, disturbing effect.
I haven't seen a movie in a long time that disturbed me like this did. And it's symptomatic of a number of downright-sick and mean films from the early '60s. It's much like 1963's "The Sadist" in its unremitting anger, violence and hopelessness.
The performances are caricatures, and all are dialed up past 11. The leering, mugging and telegraphing of the actors are all in accord. Olivia DeHavilland's performance, ironically, is the most low-key in the entire film.
One weird thing about the film: what happens to Ann Sothern's character? She's locked in a room by James Caan, and that's the last we see or hear of her. Presumably, she survives... or did I blink and miss something?
This Luther Davis cat must have had one chip on his shoulder. "Lady In A Cage" is fascinating, absurd, sickening and highly anti-social filmmaking.
Movie Review: A 60's suspense classic!
Summary: 4 Stars
This has got to rank as one of the all-time great campy 60's shocker films! I had never even heard of it until I picked it up at my local Library. It is better than I thought, and Olivia De Havilland is fabulous as the 'lady in the cage'!!
It is indeed like an extended episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' or 'The Twilight Zone', or even more like 'Night Gallery' for the 'horror' aspect of the story.
It's pretty frank, brutal & Violent for 1964!
It's James Caan's very first movie, and man, does he play a bad guy!
He was just beginning his film career, but he does a great job as the main villain.
The way he meets his demise is an all-time classic scene--pretty gory for the time.
All of this is of course shot in gorgeous Black and White! I praise Paramount for restoring this cult classic for DVD!
I recommend this DVD for a campy late-night suspenseful film treat!
It's a fun one--not a super great film, but fun!
Movie Review: Olivia.......Olivia........Nothing Bad You Can Say About Her Acting
Summary: 4 Stars
During the era of promoting these great actresses in not so big budget films was a learning experience for the viewer. Here you can get an idea of how good an actor can do without the big expense of special effects and multiple set designs. James Caan also does a great job in one of his first movies as a street thug. But Olivia can do it all. Would have loved to seen her in a one woman play on Broadway. The days of Baby Jane and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte are evident in this production made around the same time.Movie Review: All the World's a Cage....
Summary: 3 Stars
Even for today's standards, this film does a rather decent job of realistically portraying a home invasion burglary but without resorting to gratuitous violence. The films' intruders are as savage as we expect them to be and partially what makes them so frightening is their lack of empathy and decency. They terrorize the sole inhabitant, played by de Havilland, who is stuck mid-air in her private elevator. Due to a prior hip injury, she cannot escape from the elevator and has lost the ability to communicate with the outside. She can only watch as vagrants and intruders plunder her home, verbally abuse and try to attack her. What makes this film compelling is how this useless woman is able to survive with all these creative obstacles in place. James Caan, the gangs' leader, is the most convincing of all the characters and gives this film it's strength. The weakest part of this film is unfortunately the one character we're supposed to care about: the lady in the cage. At times, her intellectual rambling and overly dramatic delivery was irritating and her actions were equally ridiculous. It must have been difficult for a veteran actress like de Havilland to justify her characters' ineffectual behavior. In her defense though, it could be argued that her actions mirror those of people who are continually subjected to chaos or extreme terror; not knowing how to react or if they should get involved. Probably one of the biggest themes supported in this picture, especially in the beginning and end sequences, is the trait shared by the lawless and the law-abiding: the perversion of watching someone in pain and the inability or unwillingness to act. Overall, this film had a good, suspenseful pace and combined with a realistic setting is one of the better cult classics.