The Bamboo House of Dolls (1973) | Custom (VHS)

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Title: The Bamboo House of Dolls (1973)

Genre: Exploitation, Action, Drama

Plot Synopsis:
During World War II, a group of European and Asian women are imprisoned in a brutal Japanese-run prison camp in China. Among the inmates is a blonde Red Cross nurse who becomes the center of a daring escape plan. As tensions rise inside the camp with torture, s&xual abuse, and betrayal, the women seize a chance to flee, only to encounter danger and death in the wilds beyond the fence. Meanwhile, a secret stash of hidden gold becomes the ultimate prize—and the ultimate trap.

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Cast and Crew

• Director: Kuei Chih-Hung

• Writers: On Szeto

• Cast:

  • Birte Tove as Jennifer

  • Lo Lieh as Guard

  • Michael Wai-Man Chan as Resistance Fighter

  • Terry Lau Wai-Yue as Camp Guard

  • Wang Hsieh as Camp Commander

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IMDb Link: The Bamboo House of Dolls (1973) 

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Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. SeanBaker – ★★★★
   “As insane as I thought it would be. Violence, debauchery, and a ton of nipplage. Yes, I just used the word nipplage. I point this out not only because of the plethora of nipple shots but how uniquely they are framed. If you’ve seen the film, you know what I mean. It has such a fantastic opening title sequence that the rest almost pales by comparison. But a great entry in the women-in-prison genre. Much better shot than most of them – Anamorphic 35mm. Great use of zooms and star filters as well.”

2. JSlattery – ★★★★
   “A spirited mix of Asian and European female POWs endure the indignities of lecherous prison wardens, sadistic lesbians, and a director who never misses an opportunity to let his camera lovingly ogle their asses! Yes, it’s the mighty Shaw Brothers’ contribution to the ‘Women in Prison’ craze of the 70s, and it’s a humdinger. No Pam Grier, sadly, but we do get sexy Birte Tove (who?) as the blonde nurse who leads a desperate escape into the mountains. Incredibly sleazy, with boobs and asses aplenty, and packed with sadism and gore, but delivered with Shaw’s trademark professionalism and style… it looks terrific. Highly recommended for sleazehounds and Shaw’s fans alike.”

3. Lou – ★★★½
   “The first half of this (WWII set) Women in Prison-camp movie doesn’t distinguish itself too much from other movies of its ilk. We get scantily dressed inmates, extended shower scenes, girl-fights, failed escape attempts and even a lesbian warden. Really nothing we haven’t seen before. It isn’t until after the halfway point, when a group of women successfully break out of the POW camp, that things become a bit more interesting. Especially towards the end, there are some neatly composed shots that give the movie a much grander feel.”

4. Yonder_Wallace – ★★★½
   “Delivers the goods if you’re into Shaw Brothers’ unique mix of sleaze and style. Brutal in places, overly sexy in others, but it keeps moving and never loses visual flair. Some scenes felt straight out of a nightmare.”

5. TrashKing – ★★★
   “Basically Shaw Bros. doing Ilsa, but with better production and way more zooms. The plot is nuts, but the visuals are constantly engaging. Sleazy and kind of mean-spirited but very watchable.”

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Meta Description:
Shaw Brothers’ infamous women-in-prison shocker set during WWII, The Bamboo House of Dolls (1973) is a wild blend of s&xploitation, action, and drama featuring sadistic guards, daring escapes, and a hidden treasure. A cult favorite filled with gritty visuals and over-the-top moments.