Catfights, Cobras, and Pre-Silicone Nudity!
For fans of '70s exploitation and women-in-prison flicks, Shout Factory's "Women in Cages" collection is a fun diversion that is well-assembled. We get three Roger Corman films from 1971-72 all shot in the Phillipines starring Pam Grier and other nubile honeys.
"The Big Doll House" features lots of torture scenes, fun performances from slimy Sid Haig (his scenes with Grier are priceless), and an almost unrecognizable Pat Woodell (the original Bobbie-Jo from the black-and-white "Petticoat Junction").
The best of the trilogy is "The Big Bird Cage" which throws more humor into the mix and the result is even more entertaining. The gay Phillipino prison guards are hysterical, as is the way the women shamelessly proclaim their sexual frustration (When they finally do get their hands on a man, he's forced at knifepoint to "Get it up, or I'll cut it off!"). The dialogue in this one just gets better with lines like ""You can't rape me, I love sex" and "Never mind the...
A great bargain...two great films with extras
This 2-disc bargain offers two great Jack Hill classics--1971's THE BIG DOLL HOUSE, 1972's THE BIG BIRD CAGE and both feature commentary tracks by Hill (recorded about a decade ago) and a third film, WOMEN IN CAGES, that was shot in-between those two films (but by Gerry DeLeon, not Hill). BIRD CAGE and WIC share a disc while DOLL HOUSE is on another DVD with a wonderful new documentary, FROM MANILA WITH LOVE that features brand new interviews with writer/director Jack Hill, screenwriter James Gordon White, producers Roger Corman and Jane Schaffer and actors from both films including Sid Haig, Judy Brown, Anitra Ford, Roberta Collins, Candice Roman and Teda Bracci. Sadly, Pam Grier does not take part in the documentary. There is also one other special feature: a solo interview with Judy Brown (this set does not contain Leonard Maltin's interviews with Roger Corman).
All three films are presented in anamorphic widescreen. A note in an insert says that "Two separate film...
WOW!! The greatest Women in Prison films with Pam Grier look great!
All I can say is "this is exploitation heaven!". To me these Roger Corman drive-in classics are what prison flicks are all about! Shout has done one terrific job on this two disc triple feature. The three films are finally anamorphic widescreen and look great (especially Big Doll House) and this is a fantastic package! Always have enjoyed low budget drive in classics from the 70s, but these are the icing on the cake!! Women in Prison flicks from early 70s have always been my guilty pleasure.
The special features are numerous (love the from Manila with love doc.) for Big Doll House. Big Bird Cage has audio commentary from Jack Hill, trailers. Women in Cages only has trailer. But all in all, this is worth picking up if you enjoy these Pam Grier classics. Can't wait for the blu rays!
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