Lady in a Cage
| Lady in a Cage | |
|---|---|
 1964 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Walter Grauman |
| Written by | Luther Davis |
| Produced by | Luther Davis |
| Starring | Olivia de Havilland James Caan |
| Cinematography | Lee Garmes |
| Edited by | Leon Barsha |
| Music by | Paul Glass |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| 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 (Olivia de Havilland), 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 (William Swan) 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 (Jeff Corey), who enters the home, ignores her pleas and steals some small items.
The wino sells the stolen goods to a fence, then visits his prostitute friend, Sade (Ann Sothern), and tells her of the treasure trove he has stumbled upon. The expensive goods George fenced attract the attention of three young hoodlums, Randall (James Caan), Elaine (Jennifer Billingsley) and Essie (Rafael Campos). 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, but is dragged inside by his accomplices. As she crawls back outside, 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.