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IMDb > Lady in a Cage (1964)

Lady in a Cage (1964) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   865 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Luther Davis (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Lady in a Cage on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 July 1964 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Do not see "Lady in a Cage" alone!
Plot:
The lady is Mrs. Hilyard, a wealthy poetess who lives in a three-story city mansion and her cage is her elevator... more | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
User Reviews:
Sharply observed details elevate this lurid shocker. more (50 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Olivia de Havilland ... Mrs. Cornelia Hilyard

James Caan ... Randall Simpson O'Connell
Jennifer Billingsley ... Elaine
Jeff Corey ... George L. Brady Jr. aka Repent

Ann Sothern ... Sade
Rafael Campos ... Essie
William Swan ... Malcolm Hilyard
Charles Seel ... Mr. Paul, Junkyard Proprietor
Scatman Crothers ... Junkyard Proprietor's Assistant
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Additional Details

Runtime:
94 min | UK:92 min (DVD)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Finland:(Banned) (1964) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (video rating) (2000) | UK:R (original rating) | Finland:K-15 (2005)
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The fate of Ann Sothern's character is never revealed. At one point, she is locked in a closet and never seen again. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The battery for the alarm is shown as it runs down; but later in the movie the battery works like new. more
Quotes:
Randall: [to George] We're gonna kill you. First you, then the pig... and then, the human being
[above, Mrs. Hilyard screams]
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1965-01-17)" (1965) more

FAQ

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28 out of 33 people found the following review useful.
Sharply observed details elevate this lurid shocker., 14 July 2005
9/10
Author: ags123 from Atlanta, Georgia

"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, modern music, sharp- focus black and white photography. Overall, fine work by everyone involved.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I need some help with the ending...(CONTAINS SPOILERS) moondog-8
Questions on Style, Mannerisms goodc
TV schedule sleff-1
The UK DVD TooSexyForMyShirt
How did she get in the cage whaledogs911
DVD? graham37
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