Lady in a Cage
| Lady in a Cage | |
|---|---|
 1964 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Walter Grauman |
| Produced by | Luther Davis |
| Written by | Luther Davis |
| Starring |
Olivia de Havilland James Caan |
| Music by | Paul Glass |
| Cinematography | Lee Garmes |
| Edited by | Leon Barsha |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 94 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,650,000 (US/ Canada)[1] |
Lady in a Cage is a 1964 American psychological thriller film directed by Walter Grauman, written and produced by Luther Davis,[2] and released by Paramount Pictures. It stars Olivia de Havilland and features James Caan in his first substantial film role.
Plot
When an electrical power failure occurs, Mrs. Hilyard, a wealthy widow recuperating from a broken hip, becomes trapped between floors in the cage-like elevator she has installed in her mansion. With her son Malcolm away for a summer weekend, she relies on the elevator's emergency alarm to attract attention, but the only response comes from an alcoholic derelict, George, who enters the home, ignores her pleas and steals some small items. The wino sells them to a fence, then visits his prostitute friend, Sade, and tells her of the treasure trove he has stumbled upon. The expensive goods George fenced attracts the attention of three young hoodlums, Randall, Elaine and Essie. The trio follows George and Sade back to the Hilyard home, where they conduct an orgy of violence, killing George the wino and locking Sade in a closet. Randall then pulls himself up to the elevator and taunts Mrs. Hilyard with a note left behind by her son Malcolm, in which he threatens suicide because of her domineering manner. Shocked by the revelation, Mrs. Hilyard struggles with Randall, escapes the elevator, and crawls out of the house. Randall follows and, as he is attempting to drag her back inside, Mrs. Hilyard gouges his eyes and escapes his clutches. The blinded assailant stumbles into the street and is run over by a passing automobile, whereupon police arrive to arrest the surviving intruders and comfort the victim.
Cast
- Olivia de Havilland as Mrs. Cornelia Hilyard
- James Caan as Randall Simpson O'Connell
- Jennifer Billingsley as Elaine
- Jeff Corey as George L. Brady Jr. aka Repent
- Ann Sothern as Sade
- Rafael Campos as Essie
- William Swan as Malcolm Hilyard
- Charles Seel as Mr. Paul (Junkyard Proprietor)
- Scatman Crothers as Junkyard Proprietor's Assistant
- Richard Kiel as Pawn shop strongman (uncredited)
- Ron Nyman as Neighbor (uncredited)
See also
References
- ↑ "Big Rental Pictures of 1964", Variety, 6 January 1965 p 39. Please note this figure is rentals accruing to distributors not total gross.
- ↑ "Lady in a Cage". IMDb. Retrieved 2008-08-22.