3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Great 60s chiller

A Customer from Manchester, England, 19th July, 2005

An effective and surprisingly nasty (in terms of tone, that is, rather than content) film which is hindered only slightly by it's indulgence in some of the more ostentatious stylistic flourishes popular in it's era (crashing chords on the soundtrack to signify shocking moments, ultra-quick zooms etc). Screenwriter Luther Davis (he of Kismet fame, shockingly) takes an original idea and extrapolates it into something both gripping and thought provoking. The film is also notable for housing James Caan's first credited role. Highly reccomended.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

In the name of humanity, won't someone please let me out of this cage.

Chester Dent from London, England, 15th August, 2007

A lurid home invasion film from 1964 which is comparable to Peckinpah's Straw Dogs and influential horrors like The Last House on the Left and The Hills of Eyes for its portrayal of breathtaking brutality and sadistic violence. Lady In A Cage is a genuine oddity, a deeply nihilistic film which comments on the indifference, greed and severity inherent in society. It was banned in England because of its pychological torture and the film's unpleasantness must have been raw and shocking for its time. To a modern audience the performances may be too exaggerated and melodramatic and the script can be embarrassing but it is a curious film. The highly creative opening credit sequence is among the best I've ever seen.

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lady in a cage

A Customer from Leicester, 23rd May, 2008

gripping film well before its time and can see how later films wewre based on this film. James Caan suits the part of the crazy psyco. Everything about the lighting and shadows and weirdness makes for a more than one viewing. A film to keep in your library.

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What could Hitchock have done with this

noirpanther from , 4th April, 2006

This is one of those clever but only adequately performed melodramas with so much potential that one can only regret that Hitchcock did not direct it - if he had it could have been considered one of his classics, alongside Psycho. It was, in fact, a homage to the great director, like 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane', which came out around the same time. However, its star, Olivia DeHaviland, lacks the subtle intensity and talents of either Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (co-stars of 'Whatever...') and consequently the audience cannot identify with her predicament as much as they should for the film to be truly successful. But worth watching.

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Leave Her There!

Andre Barreau from London, England, 5th October, 2005

If you enjoy a film that 'so bad it's good' then this is for you - if not, my advice to you is leave well alone.

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