Joshuu 701-gô: Sasori (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion) (1972)

[The Firecracker]

Most "women in prison" films are boring affairs but this Japanese take is awesome!
Can't wait to see the rest in the series!

9/10

[Arizona Colt]

There's a bunch of these WIP/Pinku Eiga movies. I got the first four of this series but none of the others. I saw one of the 'shot on video' versions from the 90's and thought it was awful. The Media Blasters set contains the first, third and fourth films. Image released the second entry with burned in subs some years ago. I think another DVD company overseas also released part two, but utilized the same print.

FEMALE PRISONER #701: SCORPION
FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41
FEMALE PRISONER #701 SCORPION: BEAST STABLE
FEMALE PRISONER #701 SCORPION: GRUDGE SONG

Kaji also carved a niche for herself in the two LADY SNOWBLOOD movies and some other weird sexploitation/chambara flicks like BLIND WOMAN'S CURSE and also THE WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY movies, the second one co-starring Sonny Chiba.

[Sonny]

What is this? There's actually a genre of "prison women" films... ?? Well if the genre has been propelled by the Japanese it's not surprising, and somewhat disturbing.

[Arizona Colt]

What is this? There's actually a genre of "prison women" films... ?? Well if the genre has been propelled by the Japanese it's not surprising, and somewhat disturbing.

The film that really got the ball rolling was the Roger Corman production, THE BIG DOLL HOUSE (1971) directed by Jack (SPIDER BABY, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS) Hill. Others are THE BIG BIRD CAGE, WOMEN IN CAGES, CAGED HEAT, CHAINED HEAT (Pam Grier co-stars in a lot of these) and a slew of European WIP flicks from the awful direction of Jess Franco. The Shaw Brothers produced one of the best with THE BAMBOO HOUSE OF DOLLS in 1974. That movie had a little bit of everything--naked women, lesbianism, evil Japanese wardens, torture, blood, violence, car chase/prison break, martial arts action and a search for hidden gold.