Review of Lady in a Cage (1964) by Barron Louise M — 13 Feb 2012

Thriller has some contrivances but also enough touches of reality to make it unsettling and disturbing. Olivia is effective as she works up to different levels of hysteria at a believable pace rather than going full bore from the beginning.

Ann Sothern is a sad blowsy mess managing to engender sympathy for her character even though she does some disreputable things. James Caan is full of menace and an uncomfortable sexuality in his feature film debut, his simpleton comrades are frightening in their careless disregard for humanity.

This is economically directed with a minimum of wasted scenes and a talented cast but the theme of home invasion is to real to prove much in the way of escapist entertainment.