Caged Heat (1974)

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

Jonathan Demme (writer)

Release Date:

14 June 1975 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Women's prison U.S.A. - Rape Riot and Revenge! White Hot Desires melting cold prison steel!

Plot:

A girl is caught in a drug bust and sent to the hoosegow. The iron-handed superintendent takes exception...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Escape | Woman Shot | Accidental Killing | Dentures

Cast

Juanita Brown	...	Maggie
Roberta Collins	...	Belle Tyson
Donald Heitzer	...	Arresting Narc
Erica Gavin	...	Jacqueline Wilson
Mike Shack	...	Jake
Gary Goetzman	...	Sparky
Ella Reid	...	Pandora
Cheryl Smith	...	Lavelle (as Rainbeaux Smith)
Barbara Steele	...	Supt. McQueen
John Aprea	...	Dream Man
Ginna Martine	...	Dream Guard
Irene Stokes	...	Hazel
Cynthia Songé	...	Rosemary (as Cynthia Songey)
Ann Stockdale	...	Bonnie
Amy Barrett	...	Amy

Also Known As:

Caged Females
Renegade Girls

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1989) | Finland:K-18 (1983) | West Germany:18 (cut) | New Zealand:R18 | France:-16 | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Artists Entertainment Complex

Trivia:

Film debut of Desiree Cousteau (as Deborah Clearbranch).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: A House Is Not a Home (#5.22)" (2005)

Jonathan Demme's First Time

I'm not quite sure what to think of Caged Heat. Don't get me wrong I think Demme is a magnificent director but this…Ugh, I'm not sure what to say. I read that Caged Heat was praised by critics, I could probably see what they saw in comparison to other girls in prison flicks. It didn't have that aspect of a campy movie. It had some style to it which is good. It shows that Demme had some sense of artistic view from the very beginning of his career. You can tell that he took time in planing out shots. The best example of this is when the camera is passing by the prison cells and you can see each inmate doing something different. Those are also signs of good directing. The characters are memorable and well developed. The movie doesn't aim for showing a lot of skin. Sure some of the girls are very attractive (especially the two blond ones), still the movie doesn't rely on sex at all.

I guess you can say this is a decent first attempt. Considering the budget he had to work with, I'd say its pretty good. Its good to see directors work their way up but never forget where they came from. Demme was grateful to be working with Roger Corman and it shows. He gave him a role in Silence of the Lambs. Nevertheless Caged Heat is nice to check out. It's great entertainment that's for sure. And isn't that what films are all about?