The Cruel History of Prisoners (1976)

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Well...maybe "extravaganza" is a little "strong" - but there are a few decent scenes in HISTORY OF WOMEN'S TORTURE that makes it worthwhile. Those that have seen any of the JOY'S OF TORTURE series will note the similarities in how this Shintoho Studios production is laid out - much in the "anthology" style made popular by Ishii's films...My copy of WOMENS TORTURE is in original Japanese language with no sub/dubs - so a good bit of the story was lost on me - but honestly - the "plot" is pretty much just filler to watch some women have some decent vag-torture subjected to them. We have a lady who has her beef-curtains removed via hedge-clippers, and a neato lesbo scene where the one girly chews of the other's labes...good stuff...Although the aforementioned scenes are pretty cool - the rest of HISTORY OF WOMEN'S TORTURE is a bore. A few pixellated sex scenes - nothing else really of any note. Definitely worth a view for die-hard Japanese pinky-fans, and those that have to see every crotch-violence film ever - others will probably be bored...6/10

This film just fascinates me. I like to picture a meeting in a conference room at Shin Toho Studios in late 1975 or maybe early 1976. A number of Japanese men in suits, looking the part of serious businessmen, sit around a table and discuss what kind of movies they are going to make. Suddenly, someone suggests an anthology film about vaginal mutilation. There is some hesitation but the vote in unanimous. CRUELTY OF THE FEMALE INQUISITION (Zankyaku Onna Keishi) is given the go ahead and Shinya Yamamoto is brought on board as director.When I said anthology film I wasn't kidding. CRUELTY OF THE FEMALE INQUISITION is a series of shortish episodes that take place at various points in Japanese history. The only thing they have in common is that at the end a vagina is ripped, torn, burned etc.The first story takes place during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). A general comes home from war only to find his daughter having an affair with some young lad. She must be punished! So they stick some bamboo rod in her.Second story is about a farmer who comes home from work to find his wife doing it with a priest. So he takes the huge scissors he used for work and stabs her in the crotch. Repeatedly.The remaining stories concern an ukiyo-e artist's exploits, a princess having her vagina torn apart by a bunch of horny ninjas and a female convict having her labia roasted during interrogation.Maybe this film is kinda messed up.If you have seen Teruo Ishii's JOY OF TORTURE then you can probably picture how this film works structurally. I should also say that since this is a Japanese film and was made in the 70ies you never actually see any close ups of the genital mutilation. It's all very effectively suggested and sold through the actresses' performances.It may be interesting to know that director Shinya Yamamoto went on to direct the one and only Harry Reems (he of DEEP THROAT) in HARRY AND THE GEISHA (Ikenie no Onna-tachi) two years later.