La Cage [The Trap] *** (1975, Lino Ventura, Ingrid Thulin, William Sabatier) – Classic Movie Review 7052

Lino Ventura and Ingrid Thulin star in the 1975 French psychological crime drama La Cage [The Trap].

Lino Ventura stars as Julien and Ingrid Thulin as Hélène in the entertaining, amusing and touching 1975 French rites-of passage psychological crime drama movie La Cage [The Trap], directed with the unfashionable virtue (at least in France) of traditional craftsmanship by Pierre Granier-Deferre, who handles the teasing script and claustrophobic setting very effectively.

Property developer Julien goes to his ex-wife’s house and the vengeful Hélène traps him and imprisons him in a cage in the basement. Can beat her at her own psychological mind game?

There are basically only roles in the film and it all depends on the interplay between Lino Ventura and Ingrid Thulin. The acting of the two stars is splendid and the intelligent, provocative film, based on a story by Jack Jacquine, engages the brain and rivets the attention throughout.

It is available in an English dubbed version but instead look for the subtitled version.

Also in the cast are William Sabatier, Sophie Sam, Dominique Zardi and Jean Turlier.

It is one of two films made by Ventura with Granier-Deferre in 1975: see also Adieu Poulet [The French Detective].

The Trap (La Cage) is directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre, runs 100 minutes, is made by Lira, Parma and UGC, is released by Fox-Lira, is written by Pierre Granier-Deferre (dialogue) and Pascal Jardin (dialogue), based on a story by Jack Jacquine, shot by Walter Wottitz, produced by Pierre Granier-Deferre and scored by Philippe Sarde, with Production Design by Jacques Saulnier.

Pierre Granier-Deferre (1927–2007) is remembered for La Horse (1970) with Jean Gabin, Le Chat (1971) with Jean Gabin, La veuve Couderc (1971), Le Train (1973), and L’étoile du Nord (1982).

He made three films with Alain Delon: La veuve Couderc (1971), La Race des seigneurs [Creezy] (1974,) and Le Toubib (1979).

Granier-Deferre had two children with his second wife, Susan Hampshire.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7052

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