Gefangene Frauen

Much like Tinto Brass ("Caligula"), the people who made this movie can't tell the difference between explicitness and eroticism. No build-up at all, just throw naked women on the screen; no, it doesn't work that way. If close-ups of female genitalia aren't your thing, prepare to be looking away from the screen at many points (I often did). The "all women are whores at heart" mentality of the movie is offensive, and the "story" is by turns absurd and boring (the escape is the most boring part!). But halfway through there is a random scene that pops out of nowhere and involves one of the (female) prisoners and one of the (male) guards in a nude wrestling match, which she wins with a couple of judo moves. Although the choreography of the fight is bad, the whole scene is undeniably memorable. In fact, that scene and the nice cinematography are the only two reasons I give this film * out of 4, instead of 0.

I've come to realise through watching this sort of film that I don't like them very much. Caged Women is yet another 'women in prison' film, and like the most of the rest of the genre; the plot is completely forsaken in favour of simply showing nude women. Now don't get me wrong; I love nude women, but I also like there to be some sort of plot thread to go with the nudity, and since this film has only the basic 'women are in prison' theme running through it (aswell as the essential escape, of course), I got a bit bored before the end. The film is good because there's barely a moment in it where the women are wearing clothes, but that's about the only positive element. Director (and writer, ha ha) Erwin C. Dietrich delights in showing close-ups of the naked female body, but it's never very erotic. The director was the producer on a number of trash flicks, including some directed by Jess Franco. In my opinion, he should stick to producing as his writing talents are non-existent, and he doesn't seem to know how to film a sex scene. This sort of material is rather dry a lot of the time, but I reckon Franco could have made more out of it. Overall, this might suffice for people that are really into this sort of stuff; but I can't say I enjoyed it.

This has to be the grandmother of all porn films that attempt to have some semblance of a plot. Gratuitous nudity and sexual activity is rampant. Every scene features a beautiful naked Woman (or Women). It is a soft porn flick that tries to include material to suit everyones taste by implementing a broad variety of erotic activity. There's foot fetish activity, bondage, girl on girl, boy/girl, humiliation, a Dominant Woman, submissive women, self-pleasure, role-playing, S&M, etc... All of this is fairly mild but the film is far too explicit to be counted as a regular theatrical film. I give it a 3.7.

Several of the scenes are forceful and/or cruel and could trigger PTSD symptoms in abuse victims, or distress sensitive individuals. Steer clear or tread lightly if this is you! Of course this isn't a film for family night! It is suitable for open-minded persons age 17 and older to enjoy alone or with friends or a partner. Like most pornographic films the acting is sub-par. It's laughable but not the worst I've seen in other Euro-trash sexploitation films. Dialogue is almost nil and there is no character that with whom to relate to or admire (aside from their lovely aesthetic attributes).

"Histoire D' O" of 1975 s a better example of practical storytelling and believable performances. I recommend it over this film. "Histoire..." is the tale that strongly inspired the "50 shades" franchise. In fact, "50 shades" is close to a blatant rip-off and isn't deserving of popular praise. I digress.

The island filming location is quite unique and visually impressive. It's isolated, and the tucked-away beaches and drastic mountain peaks are both romantic and severe at the same time. It's the ideal locale for the movies half-cocked attempt at a plot by reflecting the storyline via landscape.

Not surprisingly, there are way more bushes inside the prison complex than in the landscape...haha! Grooming ones' downstairs region wasn't fashionable until the early to mid 90's. A few of the women didn't think it necessary to shave under their arms either. A couple of the men (guards) are also quite hairy. Back hair and thick full bushes...yuck. By god, why were people so adverse to smooth skin during those decades?! You'll likely find it funny and/or icky as did I.

Europeans (and the Japanese) have always been bolder than other nations at expressing their sexuality and especially peculiar activities. Their non-nonchalant attitude towards nudity and unusual "love-making" activities has always been the envy or bane of more conservative countries. I imagine that the more expressive nations have no qualms about labeling "Caged Women" as a regular theatrical production. The rest of the world either has the film banned or presented clandestinely to niche audiences.

This movie is amusing without intending to be. I think it could be re-worked and tweaked to make a great comedy-thriller for adults. I hope a talented director see's this ridiculous film and reaches the same conclusion.

Caged Women (1980)

*** (out of 4)

A group of women are having fun and working at their local whorehouse when the police storm the building and arrest them all. They are sent to a prison located on an island cut off from the rest of the world and it doesn't take long for them to fall victim to the evil warden (Karine Gambier) and her rapist guards.

Also known under its original title, GEFANGENE FRAUEN and ISLAND WOMEN, this film came pretty late in the whole WIP (women-in-prison) movement. I've often said that if you've seen on WIP movie then you've seen them all. The only difference in them is the level of cruelty that they will go for. To me Jess Franco's BARBED WIRE DOLLS is the best of the lot but CAGED WOMEN deserves a lot of credit as well.

The film was written and directed by Erwin C. Dietrich, the long time producer for several Franco classics including BARBED WIRE DOLLS. He certainly knew what he wanted to deliver and this here is pretty much a remake of that film. With that being said, this movie is without question one of the most gratuitous movies in the genre. I say that because the sleaze factor is pretty much off the charts and especially when it comes to the sexuality and nudity.

The opening twelve-minutes or so is pretty much just a showcase for the various women. We see all of the ladies strip down, masturbate and do various other sexual things that certainly cross the line of what you'd see on Cinemax. It's like the director is teasing us with all of the beautiful women he has lined up and it just grows even sleazier once we hit the prison. I also give the director credit because there's not a single ugly woman to be found here as they're all extremely attractive and constantly naked.

Gambier, another Franco vet, is good in her role as the warden and you've also got Eric Falk playing a sadistic guard. The always stunning Brigitte Lahaie plays one of the prisoners and as I said there are countless other beautiful women in the cast. Storywise there's nothing original here and there's certainly no great direction or anything else but the film was meant to be pure trash and exploitation and on that level it works really well.

Put them all together: Erwin Dietrich behind the camera, Brigitte Lahaie and a whole bunch of gorgeous, very naked women in front of the camera, keep the nudity and hot scenes going from beginning to end, and you've got a winner. Storyline?... who cares! Okay, okay... a bunch of beautiful girls are kidnapped from a bordello by a paramilitary force (yikes!) and taken to a deserted island to be held as sex slaves. That's the bad news. The good news is they don't suffer much at all, and they are nude most of the time. Basically the same cast from "Come Play With Me" (another wonderful Erwin Dietrich romp) with a bunch of welcomed additions. Fans of '70s Euro sleaze will definitely enjoy this one.