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Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion

Original title: Joshû 701-gô: Sasori
  • 19721972
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Meiko Kaji in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
After being used and betrayed by the detective she had fallen in love with, young Matsu is sent to a female prison full of sadistic guards and disobedient prisoners.After being used and betrayed by the detective she had fallen in love with, young Matsu is sent to a female prison full of sadistic guards and disobedient prisoners.After being used and betrayed by the detective she had fallen in love with, young Matsu is sent to a female prison full of sadistic guards and disobedient prisoners.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Shun'ya Itô
  • Writers
    • Fumio Kônami
    • Hirô Matsuda
    • Tooru Shinohara(manga)
  • Stars
    • Meiko Kaji
    • Rie Yokoyama
    • Yayoi Watanabe
Top credits
  • Director
    • Shun'ya Itô
  • Writers
    • Fumio Kônami
    • Hirô Matsuda
    • Tooru Shinohara(manga)
  • Stars
    • Meiko Kaji
    • Rie Yokoyama
    • Yayoi Watanabe
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:02
    Trailer

    Photos34

    Meiko Kaji in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Meiko Kaji in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Meiko Kaji in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yôko Mihara in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yôko Mihara, Akemi Negishi, and Rie Yokoyama in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yôko Mihara in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yôko Mihara and Rie Yokoyama in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yayoi Watanabe in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Meiko Kaji in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)
    Yumiko Katayama in Joshû 701-gô: Sasori (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meiko Kaji
    Meiko Kaji
    • Nami Matsushima (aka Matsu the Scorpion)as Nami Matsushima (aka Matsu the Scorpion)
    Rie Yokoyama
    Rie Yokoyama
    • Katagirias Katagiri
    Yayoi Watanabe
    • Yukiko Kidaas Yukiko Kida
    Yôko Mihara
    Yôko Mihara
    • Masakias Masaki
    Akemi Negishi
    Akemi Negishi
    • Otsukaas Otsuka
    Keiko Kuni
    • Nemotoas Nemoto
    Yumiko Katayama
    • Kitôas Kitô
    Emi Jô
    • Morikawaas Morikawa
    Sue Mitobe
    • Imuneas Imune
    Chie Kobayashi
    • Dobashias Dobashi
    Rie Yuki
    • Tatsunoas Tatsuno
    Hideo Murota
    • Okizakias Okizaki
    Saburô Date
    Saburô Date
    • Kaizutoshias Kaizutoshi
    Shinzô Hotta
    • Furuyaas Furuya
    • (as Shinzo Hotta)
    Yôichi Numata
    • Sogaas Soga
    Takeo Kamura
    Shirô Hisano
      Takashi Hio
      • Takenakaas Takenaka
      • (as Kôji Hio)
      • Director
        • Shun'ya Itô
      • Writers
        • Fumio Kônami
        • Hirô Matsuda
        • Tooru Shinohara(manga)
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Japanese director Sion Sono references this series in many of his movies: Lady Scorpion from Ai no mukidashi (2008), art-house horror elements in Ekusute (2007): hair extensions and revenge sexual torture in Koi no tsumi (2011).
      • Quotes

        Nami Matsushima: To be deceived is a woman's crime.

      • Connections
        Edited into S/s/s: Beyond Any Doubt (2012)
      • Soundtracks
        Urami Bushi
        Sung by Meiko Kaji

      User reviews42

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      The exploitation series that could
      The "Women in prison" film is a subgenre with a nasty reputation and a devoted fanbase. Usually it's nudity and cruelty galore with a plot barely thin enough to veil the only reason to watch the film is to see the sadist and lesbian (or possibly the lesbian sadist) scenes. Whereas it's true that there are a few good prison films, most of them are only in it for the exploitation. Which is not necessarily a bad point: after all, most blockbusters are only in it for the explosions.

      My first Female Convict movie was "Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41". Purchased as it was released in a series of cult films, most of them were excellent enough to convince you to buy the ones you'd never heard of. To my disappointment the movie turned out to be a sequel, the second film in a series of four starring the ravishing Meiko Kaji as Prisoner 701. One year later Kaji would star as Lady Snowblood in the eponymous films that 'influenced' Tarantino quite a lot whilst shooting "Kill Bill". The Female Prisoner tune "Urami Bushi", written by the director and sung by Kaji, was used in both Kill Bill volumes.

      Shunya Ito, director of Female Prisoner 701, directed only 8 movies in 26 years, surprisingly few if compared to the output of other Japanese directors such as Koji Wakamatsu and Seijun Suzuki or if you look at the visual flair displayed in Ito's films. Three out of the eight movies were Female Convict films.

      If you haven't seen a W.I.P. (women in prison) film before or don't like the edgier films, "Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41" (the second one) is the one to go for. It's the most regular film of the series: most of the sequel takes place out of the prison and follows a group of escaped convicts who try to stay away from the guards who're chasing them. It may still be an exploitation film, but it's not really a W.I.P. film. But never mind your difficulty to find a label for the film: just file it under 'good'.

      "Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion", the first film, is definitely exploitation, though it must be said it's a classy exploitation film. Sure, the film may start with an escape attempt by Matsu (Kaji) and another prisoner, but one doesn't have to look further than the titles to see this is exploitation cinema: naked women running up and down stairs whilst being watched by guards. But whereas there are a few traditional exploitation scenes (and some of those are pretty nasty), the film never gets tacky.

      Visually a masterpiece (impressive visuals and sets), a strong lead, an excellent director, beautiful settings... this is one of the best exploitation films you'll get to see. If you are too afraid to venture into the dark waters of exploitation cinema, watch the sequel first. You won't know why Matsu is seen as such a threat to the prison or why she's imprisoned, but apart from these details you won't be deprived from an enjoyable ride and find yourself hungry to see the other three films. And if you dare, go straight to "Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion".
      helpful•31
      8
      • KuRt-33
      • Oct 27, 2004

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • August 25, 1972 (Japan)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Lady Scorpion
      • Filming locations
        • Japan
      • Production company
        • Toei Company
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 27 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

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