Lady in a Cage

Saw this film on TV as a kid for the first time ( The 4:30 Movie on Channel 7 for you New Yorkers old enough to remember that) and it definately startled me and I never forgot it.

The basic tale is about this rich old woman (Olivia DeHavilland)who gets stuck in her elevator which resembles a bird cage in the middle of her living room. A power failure is responsible for her predicament. Three thugs (which includes James Caan as lead thug !) take advantage of the situation and terrorize the crap out this helpless woman (or is she helpless????????).

In my opinion, this film still packs a helluva wallop today despite its age. It has its brutality at points both physically and psychologically. The ending is very violent and still leaves me stunned (my hair is standing up as I write this just thinking about it again). There is one line uttered by James Caan in this movie which had to be considered so offensive back then (about the old lady's son), I still consider it pretty low yet strangely classic as part of the film.

As of this writing, this film comes on AMC once in a blue moon. Catch it if you can. A commendable effort for a 1964 film that i think successfully conveyed that innocent times in America have been forever lost.

Check out the bit part by none other than the bowlegged Scatman Crothers !!!!!!

"Lady In A Cage" was far ahead of its time. Compared to the rest of the lurid shockers produced in the early 1960s featuring aging Hollywood stars (including de Havilland's other 1964 appearance in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte") this film, along with "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" transcended the genre. But while "Baby Jane" had a lot to say about the price of fame, "Lady In A Cage" rightly predicted the impending chaos of a rapidly changing society.

Nothing about the basic premise (a middle-aged woman trapped in her house is terrorized by vagrants and thugs) suggests a deep sociological study. What elevates the ensuing events are the sharply observed details: the neighborhood in transition, the alienated masses isolated by endless traffic, the hoodlums' utter lack of conscience, and most of all, de Havilland's expert performance as the lone representative of the civilized world. Her undoing serves as a cautionary tale for a society on the brink. de Havilland makes this otherwise unsavory film exceedingly watchable. As her secrets are uncovered, she finds herself culpable as well. Everyone is caught in the inexorable downward spiral.

Despite the heavy themes, the film is highly accessible, even fun, if you take a jaundiced view. Not quite as campy as "Baby Jane" perhaps, but on some level, just as iconic. It's a film that stands up well to repeated viewings. Great graphic title sequence reminiscent of Saul Bass, compelling modern score by Paul Glass, sharp- focus black and white photography. Overall, fine work by everyone involved.

This a great film - Olivia de Havilland is perfectly cast in the role as well-to-do old lady with perfect hair, recovering from a hip operation, and (s)mothering her vaguely effeminate son who refers to her as "Darling". Her gradual descent into insanity as she is trapped in her "cage" is chilling to watch. She goes from being an uptight fakey Joan Crawford, through to neurotic terrified Shelly Winters (her scene where she rolls her eyes around in horror is CLASSIC), until ultimately she is a crazed Bette Davis...

I loved the shot of the dead dog, and the cars whizzing by, not noticing the alarm bell ringing endlessly. The fact that the whole thing happens in daylight was a good touch. What made this film good is that I didn't know how it was going to end - it seemed just nasty enough to go all out with an amoral ending if it felt like it. No wonder if was banned in the UK when it first came out.

The inevitable comparisons to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane should be made. In some ways this is a superior film - Baby Jane always appeared a little slow and plodding, and should have been cut by about 30 minutes. Lady in A Cage is just long enough, and it kept me gripped throughout.

Forget whether or not this film is philosophy 101. It's a camp classic - and Olivia's naff poetry and observations about cities being jungles are all part of the fun. Just sit back and enjoy it.

As for James Caan - he makes a wonderful debut, which owes a LOT to Brando and Dean. He appears shirtless for a good deal of the movie, and I don't think I've ever seen a pair of tighter jeans on anyone, before or since. He's the icing that makes this movie a very fine cake.

In a hot summer holiday, the incapacitated Mrs. Cornelia Hilyard (Olivia de Havilland), who broke the hip a few months ago, gets trapped alone in her private elevator in her huge house during an electricity failure. An old wino beggar is attracted by the alarm in the alley and decides to robber the house helped by Sade (Ann Sothern), a fat hustler. Meanwhile, a dangerous gang of punks leaded by Randall (James Caan) invades the house and decides to eliminate all the witness after the robbery.

I have never heard any reference about "Lady in a Cage", but I decided to buy the just-released DVD and I do not regret. I found a tense, unpleasant, claustrophobic, sadistic and scary urban tale, with outstanding and impressive performance of James Caan. The story shows the lack of attention and sympathy of the urban populations, the violence of criminals against their victims and it is very ahead of time for a 1964 movie. I recalled the also claustrophobic and excellent 1955 "The Desperate Hours", but "Lady in a Cage" is more realistic, frightening and brutal, and has not aged. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Dama Enjaulada" ("The Lady Caged")

Released back in the mid-'60's, this sadly overlooked thriller was way ahead of its time and foreshadows the senseless violence that exists in our society today. Olivia de Havilland gives a stunning performance as a partially crippled woman who becomes trapped in her private elevator during a power failure. Meanwhile, three vicious thugs(led by James Caan in his film debut) ransack her house and contemplate murdering a hustler(Ann Sothern) and a wino(Jeff Corey) who are unwittingly along for the ride. It's a gripping, chillingly realistic tale, with first-rate performances by the superb cast. Not only did James Caan make his debut with this film, but LADY IN A CAGE also marked the return of the great Ann Sothern who had been absent from the big screen for ten years to star in the popular TV shows "Private Secretary" and "The Ann Sothern Show".