Lady in a Cage

Lady in a Cage, directed by Walter Grauman and written and produced by Luther Davis, opened on July 8, 1964, as a thriller about a disabled woman (Olivia de Havilland) trapped in her home elevator and tormented by street thugs who break in. The film marks James Caan's first feature film role. Critical reaction on release was fierce: New York Times critic Bosley Crowther called it "reprehensible," and columnist Hedda Hopper said the film "should be burned." The film grossed 1.65 million dollars in the US and Canada; it was later critically reassessed and gained cult classic status. Who it's for: anyone curious about a thriller so controversial on release that one critic said it should be burned, later reassessed as a cult classic and marking an actor's film debut. Who it's not for: viewers wanting a mild, non disturbing thriller, since the film was considered excessively violent for its era.