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:

Mansion | Prostitute | Elevator | Drunkenness | Violence

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:

Continuity: The battery for the alarm is shown as it runs down; but later in the movie the battery works like new.

Quotes:

George L. Brady Jr.:Repent! Repent!

Movie Connections:

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

Despite a highly sympathetic turn, it's no "Snake Pit" for Olivia

I always remembered this as a disturbing shocker, but having rewatched the film on AMC the other day, I was disappointed by the lame supporting performances and a frustrating lack of logic. The contrivances that occur to get Olivia de Havilland stuck in that elevator are unbelievable. And, although she is graceful and sympathetic, her actions after her house is broken into are full of ninnyisms (why not make a rope out of that long house-frock and slip down to the floor?). The punks (led by James Caan!) are menacing enough, but the actor playing the drunken bum is given way too much screen-time (and his overacting is positively painful--you sigh with relief when he is gone). The film has some thoughtful things to say about apathy in our society, and it has bits and pieces which come through with a terrific charge; but, for the sake of cheap thrills, the movie casts its harsh reality to the winds. ** from ****