The Big Doll House (1971)

Director:

Jack Hill

Writer:

Don Spencer (screenplay)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Their bodies were caged, but not their desires. They would do anything for a man - or to him.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Corruption | Low Budget Film | Revolutionaries | Woman In Jeopardy | W.i.p

Cast

Judith M. Brown	...	Collier (as Judy Brown)
Roberta Collins	...	Alcott
Pam Grier	...	Grear
Brooke Mills	...	Harrad
Pat Woodell	...	Bodine
Sid Haig	...	Harry
Christiane Schmidtmer	...	Miss Dietrich
Kathryn Loder	...	Lucian
Jerry Franks	...	Fred
Gina Stuart	...	Ferina
Jack Davis	...	Dr. Phillips
Letty Mirasol	...	Leyte
Shirley de las Alas	...	Guard
Myrna De Vera
Siony Cordona

Also Known As:

Bamboo Dolls House
Women's Penitentiary
Women's Penitentiary III (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | UK:18 | USA:R | UK:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

Director Jack Hill named the sadistic prison warden "Dietrich" after German producer Erwin C. Dietrich, with whom Hill had had a very unpleasant experience after Dietrich hired him to shoot a film in Switzerland.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jackie Brown: How It Went Down (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Long-time Woman

Reasonably well made and certainly never boring Women In Prison film

"The Big Doll House" is the film thats, along with its follow-up (not exactly sequel) "The Big Bird Cage", mainly kicked off the whole Women In Prison exploitation subgenre. The surprising thing is that its not nearly as exploitive as other entries in the genre. Sure, there's the obligatory shower sequences and sadistic guards and wardens, but the female prisoners are shown in a genuinely positive light with lots of determination and smarts. I'm not saying its some kind of feminist masterpiece, but its more politically correct than most entries. Jack Hill was always one of the most intelligent drive-in filmmakers. His direction is skilled and keeps everything moving at a quick and exciting pace.

The acting all around is quite accomplished for a b-movie as well. As the heroines, Roberta Collins and Judy Brown create compelling and sympathetic tough girls who are easy to root for. Pam Grier is in this, but shes merely given a supporting role. Her real breakthrough to super-stardom came with the blaxploitation classic "Coffy" two years later (also directed by Hill). Sid Haig and Christiane Schmidtmer both offer good sleazy support. As the sympathetic and reform minded doctor, Jack Davis offers the dullest portrayal in the film, but hes really not an important role. "The Big Doll House" is one of the most important exploitation films of the decade if far from the best. Its still enjoyable to watch nowadays. (6/10)