LOVE CAGE/ JOY HOUSE, LES FELINS
France, 1964, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, Lola Albright.
Directed by Rene Clement.
Love Cage is a thriller from Rene Clement, an acclaimed director of thrillers, especially in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The range of his films include Knave of Hearts and Gervaise from the 1950s as well as This Angry Age. He also made Purple Noon, a version of The Talented Mr Ripley. After this film he made Is Paris Burning. Other thrillers include The House Under the Trees, Rider on the Rain.
Jane Fonda was living in France at the time, and involved with director Roger Vadim and made such films as The Game is Over as well as Barbarella. Alain Delon was popular in French cinema as well as internationally during the 1960s. Lola Albright tends to be overshadowed by the main stars but contributes to this atmospheric thriller.
The film was made in French and complaints were made at the time and afterwards about the English version as not living up to the quality of the French dialogue.
1. How successful was the film as a thriller, psychological drama? The significance of the title, the alternative title of Joy House, the original French title as Felines?
2. The choice of black and white photography, wide screen? The Monte Carlo locations, the importance of the house and its details, especially the hiding places?
3. The film's blending of action drama with criminal background, and psychological relationships? Which predominated? How well were they blended?
4. Was the plot meant to be plausible? How symbolic was it meant to be of interrelationships, games and victims, traps? The irony of the ending with its repetition of the whole plot?
5. The initial focus on Barbara and the type of person she was? The particulars of her character, her hiding of Vincent and hold over him? The intrusion of Mac into her life? Her companionship with Lynda, yet her dominance? Her fascination with Mac, her being caught in her own web? The irony of Vincent's death, her own death? That she was a loser in this type of game?
6. Initial presentation of Lynda? As an innocent young companion, her change into and ironic and experienced woman? The transition from naivety? Her fascination with Mac? Her allowing Barbara her own ways, yet her learning from Barbara? Her final possessiveness? Her contriving of Mac's capture, her exploiting his escape? The repetition of the plot? Would she also lose as Barbara had done?
7. The character of Vincent and his being caged, his relationship with Barbara and the women? His death? The films portraying this as a pattern for Mac after the film ends?
8. The film's central focus on Eare, the idling criminal, his background, his entry into the house? His initial entry into the cage without his realizing it? As a person, in relationship to his pursuers? His wanting to use the women yet his being used? His bid for independence and its futility? His thinking that he was escaping? His walking into the trap voluntarily? The significance for the love cage for him?
9. The films use of action and violence? At the beginning and end? its impact?
10. Insight into the strange and perverse games that people play, in the name of love? In the reality of possessiveness and dominance?
