Fairy in a Cage
Encyclopedia
aka Woman In a Cage is a 1977
Japan
ese film in Nikkatsu
's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara
and starring Naomi Tani
.
, uses his position to falsely accuse, capture, imprison and torture women in whom he is interested. Namiji Kikushima, a high-class business woman, is one such lady. Kikushima is accused of using her Ginza
jewellery shop to finance an anti-government organization. Judge Murayama has Lady Kikushima arrested, and orders the new recruit Taoka to torture her. Taoka falls in love with Kikushima, at first hating torturing her then growing to enjoy it. After a long series of tortures and humiliation, while the Judge espouses his twisted version of morality, Taoka sacrifices himself to enable Lady Kikushima's escape.
and Rei Okamoto had worked together previously in director Yasuharu Hasebe
's Rape! (1976). Tani would work with director Ohara again in Fascination: Portrait of a Lady
(1977), and Rope Hell
(1978), which also reunited her with Hirokazu Inoue, one of her torturers from Fairy in a Cage. In contrast to these torture-themed films, Ohara had been successful with light, youth-centered comedies, such as his later Pink Tush Girl
series.
In a review of the films of Kōyū Ohara
for the journal Asian Cult Cinema, Graham R. Lewis notes that Ohara uses conflict between social classes as a theme in Fairy in a Cage. Both Lady Kikushima and Judge Murayama are members of the upper class, while Taoka, the new recruit ordered to torture Kikushima, is from the lower class. Murayama tells Taoka, "Some think I am a sick person, but this form of entertainment has always been reserved for the rich." Taoka is repulsed by this philosophy, and when he comes to enjoy the torturing, sacrifices himself to release the prisoners. In a 2000 interview, Ohara confirmed this class-conflict theme, stating, "I think S&M is noble people's fantasy. In the Roman Empire, the nobility were the spectators at the coliseum as they watched slaves in life threatening games. This is the reason I used a fancy silver chalice to collect the heroine's urine in Fairy In A Cage."
In a 1998 interview, Tani recalled that one scene in Fairy in a Cage was more physically demanding than some of the more notorious ones in Lady Black Rose
(1978), which were simple tricks. "The worst scenes," she said, "are the ones where I'm hung up-side-down and tortured with my legs spread, like in Fairy in a Cage... If you try to fake it by using a suspension brace, the thigh muscles won't show tension. On the other hand, if my legs are tied too loosely, I'll fall. These scenes always demand full-shots, so no trick is ever used. When they tie my torso, the rope technicians-- professional people-- are on the set. These guys put extra effort into tying beautifully and painlessly for me."
Jasper Sharp comments that one of the most interesting aspects of Fairy in a Cage, and films of its genre, are their use of "shameful and historically sensitive" aspects of the World War II-era in Japan as subjects for sexually-oriented entertainment. He notes that this era would have been alive in the memories of many audience members at the time. For explanations of this phenomenon, he quotes pink film director Yutaka Ikejima
who theorizes that the sexual fantasies of this generation had been warped by the war experience. Sharp also quotes Japanese film scholar Donald Richie
, who asserts that these films are no more than an outlet for the frustrations that males everywhere sometimes feel towards females.
They rank Fairy in a Cage as one of Nikkatsu's best in the genre, as well as one of author Oniroku Dan
's better efforts. In his review of Ohara's oeuvre, Graham R. Lewis writes of Fairy in a Cage, "Ohara really out-did himself with this one: the period detail is perfect and again all production values and acting are of the highest quality."
Jasper Sharp, in his Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema, takes a negative view of Fairy in a Cage. He considers the film intellectually inferior to Tatsumi Kumashiro
's Woods Are Wet (1973), which had a similar theme. He writes that Ohara is not one of Nikkatsu's top directors, and that the film, "merely wallows in its own depravity, with ever more vicious displays of abuse towards its leading lady."
1977 in film
The year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese film in Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara
Koyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
and starring Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
.
Synopsis
During the latter part of World War II, Judge Murayama, head of the Japanese military policeKempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
, uses his position to falsely accuse, capture, imprison and torture women in whom he is interested. Namiji Kikushima, a high-class business woman, is one such lady. Kikushima is accused of using her Ginza
Ginza
is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi.It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most...
jewellery shop to finance an anti-government organization. Judge Murayama has Lady Kikushima arrested, and orders the new recruit Taoka to torture her. Taoka falls in love with Kikushima, at first hating torturing her then growing to enjoy it. After a long series of tortures and humiliation, while the Judge espouses his twisted version of morality, Taoka sacrifices himself to enable Lady Kikushima's escape.
Cast
- Naomi TaniNaomi Taniis a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
: Namiji Kikushima - Kazuo Satake: Keita Taoka
- Minoru Ōkōchi: Baron Murayama
- Hirokazu Inoue: Lieutenant Nishizaki
- Tatsuya Hamaguchi: Inoue
- Rei Okamoto
- Reika Maki
Background
Lead actresses Naomi TaniNaomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
and Rei Okamoto had worked together previously in director Yasuharu Hasebe
Yasuharu Hasebe
was a Japanese film director best known known for his movies in the "Violent pink" subgenre of the Pink film, such as Assault! Jack the Ripper , Rape! , Rape! 13th Hour and Raping!...
's Rape! (1976). Tani would work with director Ohara again in Fascination: Portrait of a Lady
Fascination: Portrait of a Lady
is a 1977 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara and starring Naomi Tani. Known for an ability to direct well in many genres, it was the pop-art-influenced Ohara's first true S&M film.-Synopsis:...
(1977), and Rope Hell
Rope Hell
is a 1978 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara and starring Naomi Tani.-Synopsis:Akiko is the heir to a yakuza clan. Hitoshi, who has been kicked out of the rival Hono Clan after attempting to seduce Akiko, kidnaps her at the behest of Hanamura. Hanamura has formed...
(1978), which also reunited her with Hirokazu Inoue, one of her torturers from Fairy in a Cage. In contrast to these torture-themed films, Ohara had been successful with light, youth-centered comedies, such as his later Pink Tush Girl
Pink Tush Girl
is a 1978 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara and starring Kaori Takeda, Ako and Yūko Katagiri. It is based on an award-winning novel by Osamu Hashimoto.-Synopsis:...
series.
In a review of the films of Kōyū Ohara
Koyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
for the journal Asian Cult Cinema, Graham R. Lewis notes that Ohara uses conflict between social classes as a theme in Fairy in a Cage. Both Lady Kikushima and Judge Murayama are members of the upper class, while Taoka, the new recruit ordered to torture Kikushima, is from the lower class. Murayama tells Taoka, "Some think I am a sick person, but this form of entertainment has always been reserved for the rich." Taoka is repulsed by this philosophy, and when he comes to enjoy the torturing, sacrifices himself to release the prisoners. In a 2000 interview, Ohara confirmed this class-conflict theme, stating, "I think S&M is noble people's fantasy. In the Roman Empire, the nobility were the spectators at the coliseum as they watched slaves in life threatening games. This is the reason I used a fancy silver chalice to collect the heroine's urine in Fairy In A Cage."
In a 1998 interview, Tani recalled that one scene in Fairy in a Cage was more physically demanding than some of the more notorious ones in Lady Black Rose
Lady Black Rose
aka Madame Black Rose is a 1978 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Shōgorō Nishimura and starring Naomi Tani.-Synopsis:...
(1978), which were simple tricks. "The worst scenes," she said, "are the ones where I'm hung up-side-down and tortured with my legs spread, like in Fairy in a Cage... If you try to fake it by using a suspension brace, the thigh muscles won't show tension. On the other hand, if my legs are tied too loosely, I'll fall. These scenes always demand full-shots, so no trick is ever used. When they tie my torso, the rope technicians-- professional people-- are on the set. These guys put extra effort into tying beautifully and painlessly for me."
Jasper Sharp comments that one of the most interesting aspects of Fairy in a Cage, and films of its genre, are their use of "shameful and historically sensitive" aspects of the World War II-era in Japan as subjects for sexually-oriented entertainment. He notes that this era would have been alive in the memories of many audience members at the time. For explanations of this phenomenon, he quotes pink film director Yutaka Ikejima
Yutaka Ikejima
is a Japanese film director, actor, and producer. Considered the most successful filmmaker in the pink film genre in the 2000s, his films are popular with traditional pink film audiences, fans of cinema, and with critics. Because of his prolific contributions to the pink film he has earned the...
who theorizes that the sexual fantasies of this generation had been warped by the war experience. Sharp also quotes Japanese film scholar Donald Richie
Donald Richie
Donald Richie is an American-born author who has written about the Japanese people and Japanese cinema. Although he considers himself only a writer, Richie has directed many experimental films, the first when he was 17...
, who asserts that these films are no more than an outlet for the frustrations that males everywhere sometimes feel towards females.
Critical appraisal
The commercial database Allmovie judges Fairy in a Cage to be one of Nikkatsu's best films in their violent genre. They note that in spite of his usual expertise with lightweight comedies, "Ohara's direction is crisp, and torture fans will find much to admire in the Sadean eroticism he brings to the proceedings." In their Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films, the Weissers also rate the film highly, giving it three points out of four.They rank Fairy in a Cage as one of Nikkatsu's best in the genre, as well as one of author Oniroku Dan
Oniroku Dan
was a Japanese author who had been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their Roman Porno series. Dan had a close professional association with actress Naomi Tani throughout her career...
's better efforts. In his review of Ohara's oeuvre, Graham R. Lewis writes of Fairy in a Cage, "Ohara really out-did himself with this one: the period detail is perfect and again all production values and acting are of the highest quality."
Jasper Sharp, in his Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema, takes a negative view of Fairy in a Cage. He considers the film intellectually inferior to Tatsumi Kumashiro
Tatsumi Kumashiro
was a Japanese film director best known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust and The Woman with Red Hair...
's Woods Are Wet (1973), which had a similar theme. He writes that Ohara is not one of Nikkatsu's top directors, and that the film, "merely wallows in its own depravity, with ever more vicious displays of abuse towards its leading lady."