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Caged Heat (1974)



CAGED HEAT begins with the character of Wilson (Erica Gavin, BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS) being ambushed with two male cohorts in crime by three really stupid policemen. She is brought up on charges and sentenced to a women's prison where you are apparently allowed to wear the same dress in which you were arrested (this should serve as a lesson to all guys not to wear a dress when committing a crime). She comes in contact with a strict warden (Barbara Steele; if I need to identify her, you have not been paying attention), a sadistic, yet laughable, doctor, and a mouthy badgirl (Juanita Brown).


During her stay, Wilson will get in a fight, strip, get shock treatment, shower, break out of prison, rob a bank, and, the unthinkable, break back into prison.


CAGED HEAT begins earnest enough with a stark contrast in both the direction and a level of humor. Unfortunately it loses both after about twenty minutes as it is apparently trying to develop a serious side to justify the need for escape. When this transformation in story and direction takes place the pace of the movie slows. Although there is a domino effect continuity which drives the movie, at times it is a little disjointed (it is really tryng to do too much for what it is).


Overall, CAGED HEAT, despite its pace and disjointed story, is still entertaining for its 79 minute runtime and does deliver, at least as far as nudity, some of what is standard fare for WIP flicks. Its southern fried soundtrack is a bonus that does give it a lift even though its low budget shows through at times like the seams in a leisure suit.


CAGED HEAT was written and directed by Jonathan Demme and is available on a Roger Corman Classics DVD which comes with the bonus of a picture of Roger on the case (dear god, get some tape).