Lady in a Cage (1964)

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writer:

Luther Davis (written by)

Release Date:

8 July 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | Elevator | Mansion | Tension | Sadism

Cast

Olivia de Havilland	...	Mrs. Cornelia Hilyard
James Caan	...	Randall Simpson O'Connell
Jennifer Billingsley	...	Elaine
Rafael Campos	...	Essie
William Swan	...	Malcolm Hilyard
Jeff Corey	...	George L. Brady Jr. aka Repent
Ann Sothern	...	Sade
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scatman Crothers	...	Junkyard Proprietor's Assistant (uncredited)
Ron Nyman	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Charles Seel	...	Mr. Paul, Junkyard Proprietor (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Grauman

Writing credits
Luther Davis		(written by)

Produced by
Luther Davis	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Glass

Cinematography by
Lee Garmes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Leon Barsha

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Joseph Kish

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair style supervisor (as Nelly Manley)
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Howard P. Alston	....	assistant director (as Howard Alston)

Sound Department
Frank McWhorter	....	sound recordist
John Wilkinson	....	sound recordist
Howard Beals	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Bob Simpson	....	sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Howard Alston	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Paul Glass	....	conductor

Production Companies

• AEC
• Luther Davis Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Martin Lowitz Galleries, Palm Springs, California  original paintings (as Martin Lowitz Galleries)
• Stalmaster-Lister Co.  casting (as Stalmaster-Lister)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min | UK:92 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

AEC

Trivia:

Although he had made an appearance in Irma la Douce (1963), this was James Caan's first credited feature film role after getting his start with sporadic television parts.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Early in movie, a defective power cable leading to house causes some electrical appliances to lose power, but not other - -for example, a fan shuts off but not lights or elevator. In a private residence of this size with one wire supplying electricity to entire home, there would be either power to all appliances, or none at all.

Quotes:

Randall:[to George] We're gonna kill you. First you, then the pig... and then, the human being
[above, Mrs. Hilyard screams]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: Episode dated 17 January 1965" (1965)

Lady In A Rage

This is quite a quirky and disturbing movie. Olivia must be given credit for even accepting such a role, it seems quite a departure for her even coming off of "Sweet Charlotte." James Caan (who was never a favorite of mine) delivers a creepy performance as do the rest of the thugs. Ann Southern adds a touch of class in this otherwise dark, foreboding film. You may not want to watch this movie over and over again but it does deliver some nail biting suspense, especially when Olivia tries to escape only to be drug back into the house. There were quite a few continuity flaws especially when Ann Southern's character gets locked into a closet, never to be see again or the introduction of the living room wall safe, when no one bothered to look for it. You know you're in for a disturbing movie just by the opening credits where you see a dead dog laying in the street and a little girl running her roller skates over a bums leg causing it to bleed.