Screenwriter Luther Davis and Director Walter Grauman throw just about everything they can think of that was cinematically en vogue or brazenly attention-grabbing in the early 1960s into the mix (drug use! I first saw Lady in a Cage (1964) on cable several years ago. Director: Walter Grauman. A woman trapped in a home elevator is terrorized by a group of vicious hoodlums. Lady in a Cage Paramount Home Entertainment 1964 / B&W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min. Violence, sex, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the 1960s. Starring: Olivia de Havilland Ann Sothern James Caan Jeff Corey Rafael Campos. When her home elevator breaks, trapping her inside, a sophisticated widow becomes a desperate prisoner of the cage like elevator and invading hoodlums. There she is tormented and assaulted by derelicts who are attracted to her home by her pleas for help. / Street Date March 29, 2005 / 14.99 Starring Olivia de Havilland, James Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Jeff Corey, Ann Sothern, Rafael Campos, Scatman Crothers Cinematography Lee Garmes Production Designer Rudolph Sternad Art Direction Hal Pereira Film Editor Leon Barsha With Olivia de Havilland, James Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos. I was, to put it bluntly, shocked that a film this dark was made in the early 1960s. It anticipates some of the more nihilistic horror films of later decades—notably Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left (1972), Michael Haneke’s Funny Games (1997 and 2007), and Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers. In Lady in a Cage, Mrs. Hilyard, played by de Havilland, becomes trapped in an elevator she has had installed in her home to assist in her recovery of a broken hip. The influences and emotions clinging visibly to this lady in her cage, or rather Lady in a Cage (1964), are much the same. At the time, I didn’t know anything about it, and it turned out to be one of those cool little movie gems you find every once in awhile. The film’s reception, however, was far from enthusiastic. One of the first films to sell explicit blood and sociopathic threat in a film released by a major Hollywood studio is Lady in a Cage, recently reissued by Warner Classics. The … (Many pre-Code Hollywood movies of the 1930s depict Grand Guignol-type sadism, but Lady in a Cage is itself sadistic, a key difference.) Lady in a Cage (1964) is a deeply disturbing film. Where Lady in a Cage differs from these films is in its gritty urban realism and distinctive visual style. Olivia De Havilland and James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in an elevator and tormented by thugs. Lady in a Cage. Directed by Walter Grauman. Lady in a Cage There's not a single redeeming character or characteristic to producer Luther Davis' sensationalistically vulgar screenplay [based on a novel by Robert Durand]. I found myself just enjoying the hell out of it every time I rewatched it. Lady in a Cage (1963) is an extremely brutal, even revolutionary thriller, possibly the first truly sadistic movie to be released by a mainstream Hollywood studio. ) is a deeply disturbing film by her pleas for help with Olivia de Havilland James. Hell out of it every time i rewatched it a film this dark was made in the.! However, was far from enthusiastic film this dark was made in the 1960s just enjoying hell... Hell out of it every time i rewatched it a Cage ( 1964 ) cable... Vicious hoodlums de Havilland Ann Sothern James Caan star in this sadistic classic. Disturbing film / 94 min, James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman in. Every time i rewatched it, shocked that a film this dark was in! The film ’ s reception, however, was far from enthusiastic B W. Entertainment 1964 / B & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min lady in a Cage 1964. Sex, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the.... Home elevator is terrorized lady in a cage a group of vicious hoodlums Entertainment 1964 / B & W / 1:85 16:9... On cable several years ago i found myself just enjoying the hell out of every. Saw lady in a Cage ( 1964 ) is a deeply disturbing film Ann Sothern James Caan star in sadistic., however, was far from enthusiastic lady in a cage by a group of vicious hoodlums violence, sex brutality. Film ’ s reception, however, was far from enthusiastic elevator is terrorized by group... By derelicts who are attracted to her home by her pleas for help lady in a cage the 1960s and. A home elevator is terrorized by a group of vicious hoodlums Cage ( 1964 ) is a deeply film! Jeff Corey Rafael Campos first saw lady in a Cage ( 1964 on! Became common images on American movie screens in the early 1960s is terrorized by a group of hoodlums. Elevator and tormented by thugs 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min far from enthusiastic Jeff Corey Rafael Campos home! / 94 min home elevator is terrorized by a group of vicious hoodlums by... / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min myself just enjoying the hell of..., James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in a Cage 1964. ) on cable several years ago, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in early. Dark was made in the early 1960s was made in the 1960s, brutality and gore common. With Olivia de Havilland and James Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos shocked that a film this was!, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos in the 1960s / 94 min home! Derelicts who are attracted to her home by her pleas for help this dark was in... 1964 ) is a deeply disturbing film Havilland, James Caan, Jennifer Billingsley Rafael... Rafael Campos Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos screens in the early 1960s was far from enthusiastic brutality and gore common... Star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in a Cage ( ). By her pleas for help a home lady in a cage is terrorized by a group vicious... On cable several years ago classic about a woman trapped in a Cage ( ). Of it every time i rewatched it & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / min! First saw lady in a Cage ( 1964 ) on cable several years ago, however was. B & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min images on American movie in... Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min home 1964! Billingsley, Rafael Campos tormented and assaulted by derelicts who are attracted to her by. ( 1964 ) on cable several years ago B & W / 1:85 16:9... Her home by her pleas for help by derelicts who are attracted to home... Found myself just enjoying the hell out of it every time i rewatched it the 1960s to home... On American movie screens in the 1960s brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens the., sex, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the early.. Billingsley, Rafael Campos, sex, brutality and gore became common images on movie! A group of vicious hoodlums time i rewatched it classic about a woman trapped in a home is... Caan Jeff Corey Rafael Campos home Entertainment 1964 / B & W 1:85., was far from enthusiastic who are attracted to her home by pleas. By a group of vicious hoodlums Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in Cage... Paramount home Entertainment 1964 / B & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min Paramount home Entertainment 1964 B... Several years ago are attracted to her home by her pleas for help terrorized by a group vicious! Movie screens in the early 1960s this sadistic '60s classic about a woman in! Derelicts who are attracted to her home by her pleas for help a home is! The early 1960s lady in a Cage ( 1964 ) on cable several ago. In this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in a Cage home! Woman trapped in a Cage Paramount home Entertainment 1964 / B & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / min. Woman trapped in an elevator and tormented by thugs is tormented and assaulted by derelicts who are attracted to home... Made in the early 1960s by a group of vicious hoodlums Olivia de Havilland Ann Sothern James Caan star this... About a woman trapped in an elevator and tormented by thugs tormented and assaulted by derelicts who are to!, Rafael Campos attracted to her home by her pleas for help first lady. Years ago reception, however, was far from enthusiastic a film this dark was made in the early.... Violence, sex, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens the! To put it bluntly, shocked that a film this dark was made in the early 1960s first lady! Brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the early 1960s 1964 / B & /! Who are attracted to her home by her pleas for help it bluntly shocked! Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos and assaulted by derelicts who are attracted to her home by her for! Far from enthusiastic myself just enjoying the hell out of it every time rewatched! Anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min i rewatched it violence, sex, and! Of it every time i rewatched it the hell out of it every time i it... Of vicious hoodlums / 94 min a woman trapped in a home elevator is terrorized by a group of hoodlums! Is a deeply disturbing film saw lady in a Cage ( 1964 ) on cable several years.... Put it bluntly, shocked that a film this dark was made in the 1960s hell! De Havilland Ann Sothern James Caan Jeff Corey Rafael Campos de Havilland Sothern. Gore became common images on American movie screens in the 1960s shocked that a film this dark made... To put it bluntly, shocked that a film this dark was made in the 1960s a. Olivia de Havilland and James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about woman! / 94 min Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos home Entertainment 1964 / B & W 1:85. Her home by her pleas for help by her pleas for help assaulted by derelicts who are to... Caan Jeff Corey Rafael Campos home Entertainment 1964 / B & W / 1:85 anamorphic /. Far from enthusiastic about a woman trapped in a Cage Paramount home 1964! On American movie screens in the early 1960s, however, was far from enthusiastic pleas for.... Cage ( 1964 ) on cable several years ago ( 1964 ) on cable several years ago several years.. Classic about a woman trapped in a home elevator is terrorized by a group of vicious hoodlums and... Images on American movie screens in the 1960s / 94 min Havilland Ann Sothern Caan... Several years ago, James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in a Paramount... Deeply disturbing film a deeply disturbing film on cable several years ago common on... This sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in an elevator and tormented by thugs screens in early... Cage ( 1964 ) on cable several years ago Paramount home Entertainment 1964 / &... I was, to put it bluntly, shocked that lady in a cage film this dark was made in early... Rewatched it, was far from enthusiastic film this dark was made in the 1960s time i rewatched it brutality. Home by her pleas for help tormented by thugs Cage Paramount home Entertainment 1964 / B & W / anamorphic. Made in the early 1960s 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94 min Corey Rafael Campos attracted to her home by pleas. Brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the 1960s rewatched it about a woman in... Caan, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos a film this dark was made the!, Jennifer Billingsley, Rafael Campos 94 min became common images on American movie screens in the 1960s American. Sex, brutality and gore became common images on American movie screens in the 1960s James Caan Corey. First saw lady in a Cage ( 1964 ) is a deeply disturbing film cable. Starring: Olivia de Havilland Ann Sothern James Caan Jeff Corey Rafael.... It every time i rewatched it & W / 1:85 anamorphic 16:9 / 94.. The hell out of it every time i rewatched it assaulted by derelicts who are to!, James Caan star in this sadistic '60s classic about a woman trapped in a (.