Diane Lane finally gets a solid part in a pretty good picture; so often, Lane is stuck in unsuitable parts in rather lousy movies ("The Cotton Club", "Streets Of Fire"), so much so that her career nearly evaporated after a promising start. She's first-rate here playing big-city career girl dressing windows for a department store, intriguing a married man who becomes obsessed with her. Surprisingly subtle B-movie overcomes the minimal budget with smart writing and direction, good performances by all in the cast. Lane's converted warehouse digs uncomfortably reminds one of "Flashdance", but the revenge-angle in the second-half is clever and well-done; nicely attuned climax too, making its point without going over-the-top. **1/2 from ****
19 Reviews
audience beware...this is a weird flick
mcfly-317 July 2002
It is hardly believable for most of its running time, but at least it keeps you watching. It begins when Lane sort of pushes her way into a job as a window dresser. This was the second film of '87 to feature one following the Andrew McCarthy comedy "Mannequin" (this one is even replete with a flamboyantly gay co-worker, too). But, ooh boy, is this a much different movie. Lane's gutsy and provocative displays get her noticed in good and bad ways, one of which is by a perverted x-ray technician, played by Woods. First we get the typical stalking; she's followed home; he steals her mail; harrassing phone calls. But at one point the perv scales the wall of her apartment/loft, takes a bath, and does something rather gross to one of her nighties. All the while talks to the police are mostly kept off-screen an d Lane keeps putting up with everything. Which, again, is one of the many implausible elements of the film. Only in movieland would the victim accept the challenge and begin playing cat and mouse games with the wacko. Plus the MANY unintentional laughs, like Woods dancing around her place in a bathtowel, him doing a Spiderman impression by climbing down the side of her building on a rope so he can break in, and Lane cursing her mirror while she repeatedly spits on it. The ending is a downer, too, kind of a letdown. Though different, it's mostly ineffective. And what the hell happened to Smith's character? All of a sudden he's dropped and never mentioned again (I'm sure he didn't care considering that love scene he got to do with Lane, hubba hubba). I must say the performances are there big time. Lane, aside from being absolutely gorgeous, which is saying nothing of her eye-popping (among other things, hehe) topless shot, really conveys her loss of freedom. At times the stuff she spouts is a little over the top, but is delivered nice enough. And if Woods is indeed James Woods brother, talent is definitely in the bloodline. His characters' only mis-step is not being more agressive with Lane. Early on she talks suggestive to Smith on the phone, appearing to be open sexually about herself (which is also indicated by her window displays). But Woods approach is more scary, which just makes her pissed. This was one of only a few good movies from the quickly defunct Scotti Bros. before they withered away and is too bad. Though pretty much unknown, it's a decent little thriller.
Yinzer giallo
BandSAboutMovies28 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There are exactly six movies in the subgenre - well, I came up with it and I don't know who has to approve it - known as Yinzer giallo. These are movies made in the city of Pittsburgh that must follow these rules. We will test Lady Beware against them.
First off, is it a giallo?
Has there been a murder or is the lead character a fish out of water being stalked by someone and exposed to threats of psychosexual violence?
Yes: Katya Yarno (Diane Lane, making her second Pittsburgh/Western PA film appearance, as I always consider Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains as taking place somewhere in the Pennsylvania rust belt, called Charlestown here which is the same town as Slap Shot, so I guess it's Altoona) is a fashion designer who has gotten the most desirable of all Steel City fashion jobs. She's a window dresser at Horne's.
A quick note: Horne's was a regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh that at its height had twelve locations. The best known was in downtown - it's now offices for Highmark - on Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street. It was a seven-story department store with a famous Christmas tree that is still lit as part of Pittsburgh's Light Up Night. You can also see another Horne's in Dawn of the Dead and it inspired the character of Ben Joseph Horne on Twin Peaks, as co-creator Mark Snow went to Carnegie Mellon.
Other than creating the window displays for their rival store Kaufmann's - which leads to the yinzer term for mind your business, "Does Hornes tell Kaufmann's their business?" - having this job would be the job in 1987.
Anyways...
Katya is a small-town girl in the big city, which is funny because Pittsburgh is the smallest big city there is. That said, her window dressings are quite sexual and filled with allusions to BDSM, which leads to Jack Price, a married and obsessive maniac, starting to stalk her and call her with incredibly sexually depraved phone calls.
So while there's no murder or black gloves, there's plenty of stalking. And Katya may not feel guilty for her window scenes, but numerous men standing outside are positively scandalized and probably ran up to St. Mary of Mercy on Stanwix for absolution.
A yinzer giallo aside: Much like Rome, the kinda sorta birthplace by way of England and then Germany for the main giallo form, the large number of Italian - and Italian - immigrants to Western Pennsylvania makes Catholicism and its morals central to growing up here for many people.
Is there high fashion, beautiful people and abundant nudity?
There's a ton of fashion in this. The costumes were designed by Patricia Field, who would be much better known for designing the clothes for The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City, a job that she got after impressing Sarah Jessica Parker years before on the movie Miami Rhapsody.
As for the nudity, the one scene Lane is nude was supposedly taken while she was unaware.
Director Karen Arthur (The Mafu Cage) told the Los Angeles Times, "Some distributors asked for more sex, so they took outtakes of Diane Lane standing there naked and incorporated them into the film. To me, that's exploitative. They printed up negatives where I never said print. I, as a female director, would never exploit a woman's body and use it as a turn-on."
The director nearly took her name off the movie but didn't think that it was fair to the actors, who can't remove their names and do an Alan Smithee.
To be a Pittsburgh giallo, the film must accomplish all of the above - when possible - and also:
Be true to its Pittsburgh roots, meaning that the movie must be filmed here while speaking directly to the experience of growing up in the city.
This is true directly because this movie could have made up any store and chose Horne's. Now, we can debate the industrial loft that Katya lives in - maybe it's in the Strip District - but the fact that she just has a bathtub in the middle of the room is very true to the stylistic ideal of the Pittsburgh toilet, which is just a toilet in the basement with no walls and just sitting there for very unprivate private moments.
If it's filmed here, it must reference Pittsburgh and not have the city stand-in for another town.
Executive producer Lawrence Mortoff had producer the 1984 Nastassja Kinski-starring Maria's Lovers in Pittsburgh, so he brought the movie to the City of Bridges, getting 28 shooting days mostly in dahntahn and the North Side.
It must feel authentic, which helps several films on this list as they are movies with moments that only make sense when you're a life-long Pittsburgher.
True to 1987, Pittsburgh Magazine shows up to report on the windows. And while there are few Steelers jerseys and bottle of Iron City, Katya does go on a date to the Grand Concourse, which other than LeMont would have been one of the better places for a date back in the late 1980s.
Speaking of Pittsburgh, look for locals like Chef Don Brockett (who was on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and was legally bound to appear in every movie made in Pittsburgh, as he shows up in Silence of the Lambs and Flashdance), Steel City stage legend Bingo O'Malley and Audrey Roth (Mr. Roger's friend Miss Paulifficate) are in this.
Verdict: Definitely yinzer giallo.
Sadly, this movie got away from its director, who had been working on it since the late 70s. In the same Los Angeles Times article, Arthur said that the movie had "100 homes, 17 drafts, and eight writers," while being upset by the film's production team at Scotti Brothers: "The purse-holders are men, and they attempted to make Lady Beware into a violent picture. I'm not interested in making a picture where a woman gets beat up. I want to show how a lady deals with this kind of insidious violence. A policeman can't help."
Starting with the success of Leif Garrett - their record label also had James Brown in the late 80s, Felony, Survivor and "Weird Al" Yankovic - Scotti Brothers moved into movies and TV - they were involved in the production and distribution of Baywatch - and made the films The Resurrected, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!, Eye of the Tiger (well, that makes sense seeing who was on the label), In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro, He's My Girl, Stealing Heaven, The Iron Triangle and Death of a Soldier.
Who is to blame? Well, one of three Scotti brothers who produced this, Tony, would play Tony Polar in Valley of the Dolls; I don't see any gossip about him. As for Mortoff, in addition to producing movies in nearly every genre, he directed one film, 1993's Deadly Exposure. None of these things point to anyone, but regardless of who was to blame, Cotter Smith's performance was cut down - he'd return to Pittsburgh to be in the series Mindhunter - and all of Viveca Lindfors parts were cut. She'd also come back to be in Creepshow and North of Pittsburgh.
However, it's said that this heavy-handed interference made the film - and look, giallo are already hard to understand - confusing.
It's a shame because Lady Beware does have some moments where you can see that it has the hope of being a great film. The close - using mannequins to attack the male aggressor - suggests a more heroic female Maniac, which is an interesting turn.
First off, is it a giallo?
Has there been a murder or is the lead character a fish out of water being stalked by someone and exposed to threats of psychosexual violence?
Yes: Katya Yarno (Diane Lane, making her second Pittsburgh/Western PA film appearance, as I always consider Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains as taking place somewhere in the Pennsylvania rust belt, called Charlestown here which is the same town as Slap Shot, so I guess it's Altoona) is a fashion designer who has gotten the most desirable of all Steel City fashion jobs. She's a window dresser at Horne's.
A quick note: Horne's was a regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh that at its height had twelve locations. The best known was in downtown - it's now offices for Highmark - on Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street. It was a seven-story department store with a famous Christmas tree that is still lit as part of Pittsburgh's Light Up Night. You can also see another Horne's in Dawn of the Dead and it inspired the character of Ben Joseph Horne on Twin Peaks, as co-creator Mark Snow went to Carnegie Mellon.
Other than creating the window displays for their rival store Kaufmann's - which leads to the yinzer term for mind your business, "Does Hornes tell Kaufmann's their business?" - having this job would be the job in 1987.
Anyways...
Katya is a small-town girl in the big city, which is funny because Pittsburgh is the smallest big city there is. That said, her window dressings are quite sexual and filled with allusions to BDSM, which leads to Jack Price, a married and obsessive maniac, starting to stalk her and call her with incredibly sexually depraved phone calls.
So while there's no murder or black gloves, there's plenty of stalking. And Katya may not feel guilty for her window scenes, but numerous men standing outside are positively scandalized and probably ran up to St. Mary of Mercy on Stanwix for absolution.
A yinzer giallo aside: Much like Rome, the kinda sorta birthplace by way of England and then Germany for the main giallo form, the large number of Italian - and Italian - immigrants to Western Pennsylvania makes Catholicism and its morals central to growing up here for many people.
Is there high fashion, beautiful people and abundant nudity?
There's a ton of fashion in this. The costumes were designed by Patricia Field, who would be much better known for designing the clothes for The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City, a job that she got after impressing Sarah Jessica Parker years before on the movie Miami Rhapsody.
As for the nudity, the one scene Lane is nude was supposedly taken while she was unaware.
Director Karen Arthur (The Mafu Cage) told the Los Angeles Times, "Some distributors asked for more sex, so they took outtakes of Diane Lane standing there naked and incorporated them into the film. To me, that's exploitative. They printed up negatives where I never said print. I, as a female director, would never exploit a woman's body and use it as a turn-on."
The director nearly took her name off the movie but didn't think that it was fair to the actors, who can't remove their names and do an Alan Smithee.
To be a Pittsburgh giallo, the film must accomplish all of the above - when possible - and also:
Be true to its Pittsburgh roots, meaning that the movie must be filmed here while speaking directly to the experience of growing up in the city.
This is true directly because this movie could have made up any store and chose Horne's. Now, we can debate the industrial loft that Katya lives in - maybe it's in the Strip District - but the fact that she just has a bathtub in the middle of the room is very true to the stylistic ideal of the Pittsburgh toilet, which is just a toilet in the basement with no walls and just sitting there for very unprivate private moments.
If it's filmed here, it must reference Pittsburgh and not have the city stand-in for another town.
Executive producer Lawrence Mortoff had producer the 1984 Nastassja Kinski-starring Maria's Lovers in Pittsburgh, so he brought the movie to the City of Bridges, getting 28 shooting days mostly in dahntahn and the North Side.
It must feel authentic, which helps several films on this list as they are movies with moments that only make sense when you're a life-long Pittsburgher.
True to 1987, Pittsburgh Magazine shows up to report on the windows. And while there are few Steelers jerseys and bottle of Iron City, Katya does go on a date to the Grand Concourse, which other than LeMont would have been one of the better places for a date back in the late 1980s.
Speaking of Pittsburgh, look for locals like Chef Don Brockett (who was on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and was legally bound to appear in every movie made in Pittsburgh, as he shows up in Silence of the Lambs and Flashdance), Steel City stage legend Bingo O'Malley and Audrey Roth (Mr. Roger's friend Miss Paulifficate) are in this.
Verdict: Definitely yinzer giallo.
Sadly, this movie got away from its director, who had been working on it since the late 70s. In the same Los Angeles Times article, Arthur said that the movie had "100 homes, 17 drafts, and eight writers," while being upset by the film's production team at Scotti Brothers: "The purse-holders are men, and they attempted to make Lady Beware into a violent picture. I'm not interested in making a picture where a woman gets beat up. I want to show how a lady deals with this kind of insidious violence. A policeman can't help."
Starting with the success of Leif Garrett - their record label also had James Brown in the late 80s, Felony, Survivor and "Weird Al" Yankovic - Scotti Brothers moved into movies and TV - they were involved in the production and distribution of Baywatch - and made the films The Resurrected, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!, Eye of the Tiger (well, that makes sense seeing who was on the label), In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro, He's My Girl, Stealing Heaven, The Iron Triangle and Death of a Soldier.
Who is to blame? Well, one of three Scotti brothers who produced this, Tony, would play Tony Polar in Valley of the Dolls; I don't see any gossip about him. As for Mortoff, in addition to producing movies in nearly every genre, he directed one film, 1993's Deadly Exposure. None of these things point to anyone, but regardless of who was to blame, Cotter Smith's performance was cut down - he'd return to Pittsburgh to be in the series Mindhunter - and all of Viveca Lindfors parts were cut. She'd also come back to be in Creepshow and North of Pittsburgh.
However, it's said that this heavy-handed interference made the film - and look, giallo are already hard to understand - confusing.
It's a shame because Lady Beware does have some moments where you can see that it has the hope of being a great film. The close - using mannequins to attack the male aggressor - suggests a more heroic female Maniac, which is an interesting turn.
Only Diane Lane
Dano-4528 February 2000
The only reason to watch this movie is to see Diane Lane naked. There are 4 or 5 scenes where you, along with the stalker and her lover, get to see Diane's breasts and beautiful body. Basically the movie sucks! Diane's character is a sexually frustrated working woman who gets stalked by an admirer who is very disturbed. She has an erotic dreams about her work and bathes in her studio apt. with no shades. She gets bothered by the stalking and can't really have sex with anyone she's seeing. She almost does after stripping down for her lover, but can't quite do it. Oh, well. You still got to see this outstanding actress shed her clothes. That's the only reason to watch this one.
Holds you.
gridoon30 April 2002
Despite some plot implausibilities and a mildly excessive running time, this is an interesting erotic thriller that will maintain your attention with its solid acting and its straightforward directing. The villain here is a married man and a doctor, which only makes the contrast between his "normal" life and his perverse side much more sharp. If you're looking for a thriller centered on sexual fixation, this may not be your only choice, but it is among the good ones. (**1/2)
Formulaic (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)
smatysia6 May 2000
Warning: Spoilers
Diane Lane was so beautiful in this film. And her topless scenes here didn't hurt that a bit. Michael Woods was evil enough, and as I suspected, (confirmed by Imdb) he is James Woods' brother. Aside from this the movie was a thoroughly formulaic psycho stalker movie. SPOILERS AHEAD!!! Lane's character at least got to be a strong woman type at the end and trap the stalker herself, rather than being merely the damsel in distress. This allowed her to flesh out the characterization and shows that she has some talent in addition to magnificent breasts. Also, somewhat refreshingly, the ending climax amounted to police apprehension of the villain, rather than the expected grisly death. An OK film, and a must for fans of Lane. Grade C+
Keeping Abreast Of Diane Lane
ccthemovieman-115 July 2006
This movie definitely has a Grade B feel to it. Diane Lane is only "star" actor in here and she wasn't that big a name in '87 anyway. The story is sleazy one about a window dresser (Lane) who displays almost-pornographic displays with her window mannequins.
These semi-erotic dressing attract a stalker to Lane and that's where the suspense come in....good suspense, to be fair. Lane is great to ogle and is not modest in showing herself to us. Actually, this film seems to be only a vehicle or an excuse for the pretty actress to show off her breasts. Otherwise, it's standard "B" fare, because the story sure isn't much.
These semi-erotic dressing attract a stalker to Lane and that's where the suspense come in....good suspense, to be fair. Lane is great to ogle and is not modest in showing herself to us. Actually, this film seems to be only a vehicle or an excuse for the pretty actress to show off her breasts. Otherwise, it's standard "B" fare, because the story sure isn't much.
Young woman threatened by stalker.
Tangor13 December 1998
Diane Lane is a window dresser whose life is turned upside down by an obsessed stalker. The suspense in this dark tale rises to a fever pitch over a series of increasingly threatening incidents. The cinematography is stark and, though in color, has the feel of earlier film noir suspense.
I guess if "Flashdance" could put Pittsburgh on the map of clothing fashion, then this could do the same for department store display windows.
mark.waltz10 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I don't think of Pittsburgh when I think of cultural influence like I do for their sports teams, but several motion Pictures and television series have attempted to change that image. "Lady Beware" is another late '80s sexual psychological thriller of the independent woman trying to change culture through what she does and getting all sorts of backlash, good and bad. At least she gets the big boss's approval. And that's all that counts, even if his wife doesn't approve.
Someone else is impacted by it, and for young Diane Lane, it's not in a good way. A man working in the office across the street (soap veteran Michael Woods) is constantly looking out of his window at the displays, and starts following her, first innocently and then dangerously, turning it into obvious stalking. Lane is constantly seen in some state of undress (which was done without the knowledge of the director), and this gives it a feeling of exploitation, certainly not the message that she wanted to project. Eventually, this descends into the formula of a made for cable movie where rushed out projects didn't really care about character over ratings.
This certainly uses Pittsburgh's locations in great detail, and the viewer gets a glimpse of the various neighborhoods and important sights, my favorite being the old Three Rivers Stadium. Even without the additional footage done without director Karen Arthur's permission, this still has elements deliberately made to titillate rather than showing the growing feet that Lane has and how she becomes strong enough to confront it later on. The film's screenwriters might have started off well meaning, but somewhere along the line just utilized the same type of methods to get audiences into the theater and forgot about what their vision originally was. After a while, it just became another boring melodrama that is quickly forgotten after the viewer is done.
Someone else is impacted by it, and for young Diane Lane, it's not in a good way. A man working in the office across the street (soap veteran Michael Woods) is constantly looking out of his window at the displays, and starts following her, first innocently and then dangerously, turning it into obvious stalking. Lane is constantly seen in some state of undress (which was done without the knowledge of the director), and this gives it a feeling of exploitation, certainly not the message that she wanted to project. Eventually, this descends into the formula of a made for cable movie where rushed out projects didn't really care about character over ratings.
This certainly uses Pittsburgh's locations in great detail, and the viewer gets a glimpse of the various neighborhoods and important sights, my favorite being the old Three Rivers Stadium. Even without the additional footage done without director Karen Arthur's permission, this still has elements deliberately made to titillate rather than showing the growing feet that Lane has and how she becomes strong enough to confront it later on. The film's screenwriters might have started off well meaning, but somewhere along the line just utilized the same type of methods to get audiences into the theater and forgot about what their vision originally was. After a while, it just became another boring melodrama that is quickly forgotten after the viewer is done.
there is some decent suspense
christopher-underwood23 April 2014
This has something of the feel of being a TV movie and I see that is where most of this lady directors work is shown, though this was a straight to video feature. The big difference is that this has moments of sex and violence and particularly language that would not have endeared it to TV in the 80s. Set I believe in Pittsburg, we see a fair amount of the city and if the story surrounding a window dresser and the stalking it attracts is not particularly original this certainly has a decent edge to it with SM inspired arrangements of the mannequins. We are led to believe that it is this element that prompts Woods' character to become so obsessed but as a gay seeming married with daughter guy, this is never properly dealt with or exploited. Diane Lane acts her socks off and sheds everything else as well, several times while Michael Woods poses about the place rather moodily and never until the end with much conviction. Revenge is sweet, but it takes a long, long time here, though it has to be admitted there is some decent suspense and thrills along the way, again particularly towards the end. If I'm making this sound rather dull, I'm afraid that's because largely it is, despite the potential offered by the visuals and the frightening situation we are presented with. (80s music doesn't help!)
Lame, Badly-Acted, Predictable
vip-danii12 October 2016
Not sure why this is labelled as "thriller"; there are hardly any thrills.
The lead actress is not convincing in her role, and is rather unlikeable to boot. Some Carrie Bradshaw wannabe that you have no interest in and no desire to root for. Bad character development plus the acting is mediocre at best. Disaster.
The "bad guy" is not convincing, either. Not menacing at all. His supposed obsession doesn't seem real at all. In fact, he gives out the vibe that he intensely dislikes the broad rather than is obsessed with her.
This movie is highly unrealistic. I'm not sure who's supposed to be the target audience. No one really likes a movie they can't relate to in any way, right?
And the only way for the audience to know when they are "supposed to" be "thrilled" (or scared) is the sound effects. In fact, they were the most "threatening" thing about this movie.
Waste of time, basically.
The lead actress is not convincing in her role, and is rather unlikeable to boot. Some Carrie Bradshaw wannabe that you have no interest in and no desire to root for. Bad character development plus the acting is mediocre at best. Disaster.
The "bad guy" is not convincing, either. Not menacing at all. His supposed obsession doesn't seem real at all. In fact, he gives out the vibe that he intensely dislikes the broad rather than is obsessed with her.
This movie is highly unrealistic. I'm not sure who's supposed to be the target audience. No one really likes a movie they can't relate to in any way, right?
And the only way for the audience to know when they are "supposed to" be "thrilled" (or scared) is the sound effects. In fact, they were the most "threatening" thing about this movie.
Waste of time, basically.
Great psychological thriller
AnaBH21 December 1998
A young woman trying to prove herself in the world of window dressing. Her very erotic imagination leads to great success and recognition in her career. Unfortunately, one of those observing her windows is an obsessed stalker. Through twists and turns this psychological thriller will keep one on the edge of his seat and possibly even aroused.
Erotic Film with a Stalker
romanorum11 March 2024
Katya Yano (Diane Lane) arrives at Horne's department store in Pittsburgh and convinces the owner to give her a job as a window display designer. "Your window displays are so boring," she says. She succeeds when she sets up the store mannequins in sexually provocative and kinky poses. Some folks are outraged like the fellow who screams "You can see her crotch." Of course it's just a mannequin. Anyway, the stores' sales dramatically increase. Meanwhile, there is an erotic dream sequence by which Katya has sex with a male mannequin who comes to life. Later in real life she exposes her ample breasts to her lover, Mac Odell (Cotter Smith). Along the way Mac Odell somehow disappears from the movie and never reappears for the denouement.
The attention arouses the passions of Jack Price (Michael Woods), a lab technician who becomes obsessed with the vulnerable single woman who lives downtown in a loft apartment in an older, spacious brick building. Price continually harasses the young woman by making obscene telephone calls. He also breaks into her apartment and sniffs things. Somehow the police are powerless. Despite the constant stalking, Price has not been a murderer, and there are no killings as 1980s movies like "Dressed to Kill" (1980), "Dead Aim" (1987)," and "Night Game" (1989).
Eventually Katya decides to fight back on her own. No spoilers are provided here, but there are two strange scenes along the way. One shows the stalker somehow getting on top of Katya's building and using just a single rope manages to squeeze through an open window to enter Katya's place. No one notices anything. The other scene shows Katya, alone and unarmed, purposely confronting Price at night in the city. No backup? What was she thinking? It is true that the constant stalking has distressed her, but her action is off the wall. All in all, though, the movie never loses interest.
The attention arouses the passions of Jack Price (Michael Woods), a lab technician who becomes obsessed with the vulnerable single woman who lives downtown in a loft apartment in an older, spacious brick building. Price continually harasses the young woman by making obscene telephone calls. He also breaks into her apartment and sniffs things. Somehow the police are powerless. Despite the constant stalking, Price has not been a murderer, and there are no killings as 1980s movies like "Dressed to Kill" (1980), "Dead Aim" (1987)," and "Night Game" (1989).
Eventually Katya decides to fight back on her own. No spoilers are provided here, but there are two strange scenes along the way. One shows the stalker somehow getting on top of Katya's building and using just a single rope manages to squeeze through an open window to enter Katya's place. No one notices anything. The other scene shows Katya, alone and unarmed, purposely confronting Price at night in the city. No backup? What was she thinking? It is true that the constant stalking has distressed her, but her action is off the wall. All in all, though, the movie never loses interest.
Lane sells it. Timeless story. Loved it.
Moonstreams3 March 2019
I find this movie every few years and watch it again. Something about it is haunting. Diane Lane makes the whole movie. Her New York loft is a crucial piece of the plot - almost another character. The males characters are fine but she's divine.
Bad movie seekers beware, you won't find one in this lost gem.
Spectre-general3 September 2009
I just watched this film for the first time because I'm a fan of B-grade schlock that never so much as made a blip on the radar, and this film seemed to fit right into that category what with the straight to video release and the fact that no DVD has been made to date. Boy was I happily surprised instead to find a genuinely thrilling film with some acting that could put a ton of more successful (and higher budget) films to shame.
This is a stalker tale, starring Katya, a headstrong young woman (Diane Lane was 22 at the time and we've no reason to believe she's any older in the film) who's just moved away from her country home to the city to find work as a window-dresser. Her assertiveness gets her the job, and she somehow has the funds to afford as an apartment a single floor of a warehouse, which provides a unusual and somewhat dark setting for the film, and helps it's creepy nighttime atmosphere. Katya excels at her window dressing job by creating provocative and somewhat risqué displays which attract tons of attention for her store. As it turns out not all attention is positive as she also quickly gains a stalker in Jack (Michael Woods) and an admirer in Mac (Cotter Smith) a reporter who interviews her and writes an article on her work. Katya is far too empowered and independent to concern herself with the obscene phone calls she receives from a mysterious stranger (Jack) until he proves to be a legit stalker complete with all the sinister wiles necessary to successfully entrap her, both in mind and ever more threateningly, body. Jack spins his nefarious web, as the two characters whose worlds have been submerged in chaos vie for control in a dangerous sortie.
Though this is no novel concept, indeed it's a rather common one, the acting in this film, and the subtleties within make it far more striking and memorable than any like film I've ever seen. I'll also mention that this film though being in a specific sub-genre that has a reputation for being formulaic deliciously breaks from that formula, which is a reason to watch it in and of itself. The actor's abilities to express things subtly really makes the film more "real" if you will, and both Diane Lane and Michael Woods excel in their respective roles. Much like her window displays, Lane simply oozes eroticism just by being on camera, and Woods portrays hands-down the creepiest yet still believable stalker I've ever seen in a movie, which is erotic too in it's own perverse way. It's a shame this film didn't have more exposure or Woods might've been able to land roles more accrediting than Red Shoe Diaries though this film does showcase his forte for that type of role. Another thing I can vouch for; after seeing this film I am a Diane Lane fan for life. An actor's job is to make sure you don't know they're acting, and either Diane Lane IS Katya, or she's one of the best actresses I've ever had the pleasure of being fooled by. In either event she was amazing in this movie, completely perfect for the role, and I truly hope Diane Lane is proud of her performance. I dare say it might be the best I've seen from her, and I can only hope some contemporaries at the time saw it and thought as I did which may have helped her toward the greater fame she now possesses and deserves. Although, the straight to video release and somewhat seedy premise make it more likely that this film truly is just a hidden treasure still waiting to be discovered. Lady Beware was probably the best surprise I've had all year, and if you so much as have the gumption to even find and read this review, this is a must-see film for you, I doubt you'll regret it.
This is a stalker tale, starring Katya, a headstrong young woman (Diane Lane was 22 at the time and we've no reason to believe she's any older in the film) who's just moved away from her country home to the city to find work as a window-dresser. Her assertiveness gets her the job, and she somehow has the funds to afford as an apartment a single floor of a warehouse, which provides a unusual and somewhat dark setting for the film, and helps it's creepy nighttime atmosphere. Katya excels at her window dressing job by creating provocative and somewhat risqué displays which attract tons of attention for her store. As it turns out not all attention is positive as she also quickly gains a stalker in Jack (Michael Woods) and an admirer in Mac (Cotter Smith) a reporter who interviews her and writes an article on her work. Katya is far too empowered and independent to concern herself with the obscene phone calls she receives from a mysterious stranger (Jack) until he proves to be a legit stalker complete with all the sinister wiles necessary to successfully entrap her, both in mind and ever more threateningly, body. Jack spins his nefarious web, as the two characters whose worlds have been submerged in chaos vie for control in a dangerous sortie.
Though this is no novel concept, indeed it's a rather common one, the acting in this film, and the subtleties within make it far more striking and memorable than any like film I've ever seen. I'll also mention that this film though being in a specific sub-genre that has a reputation for being formulaic deliciously breaks from that formula, which is a reason to watch it in and of itself. The actor's abilities to express things subtly really makes the film more "real" if you will, and both Diane Lane and Michael Woods excel in their respective roles. Much like her window displays, Lane simply oozes eroticism just by being on camera, and Woods portrays hands-down the creepiest yet still believable stalker I've ever seen in a movie, which is erotic too in it's own perverse way. It's a shame this film didn't have more exposure or Woods might've been able to land roles more accrediting than Red Shoe Diaries though this film does showcase his forte for that type of role. Another thing I can vouch for; after seeing this film I am a Diane Lane fan for life. An actor's job is to make sure you don't know they're acting, and either Diane Lane IS Katya, or she's one of the best actresses I've ever had the pleasure of being fooled by. In either event she was amazing in this movie, completely perfect for the role, and I truly hope Diane Lane is proud of her performance. I dare say it might be the best I've seen from her, and I can only hope some contemporaries at the time saw it and thought as I did which may have helped her toward the greater fame she now possesses and deserves. Although, the straight to video release and somewhat seedy premise make it more likely that this film truly is just a hidden treasure still waiting to be discovered. Lady Beware was probably the best surprise I've had all year, and if you so much as have the gumption to even find and read this review, this is a must-see film for you, I doubt you'll regret it.
Lady Beware, Stalkers Are Now Out There!
Noirdame799 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I found this film disturbing, but extremely watchable. I've always admired Diane Lane and it's great that her career is back on track. LADY BEWARE is a bit ahead of its time, just before the crime of stalking became, sadly, an all too common offense. What I really enjoyed about the movie is how Lane's character Katya turns the tables on her sicko stalker Jack (the very creepy Michael Woods) in the climax, letting him know how it feels to be trapped. And there are some funny moments with her department store coworker Lionel (who is obviously gay) and Froggie, the teeth happy Doberman. Katya's life and home becomes a prison of fear because her privacy and life has been so invaded by this psycho. Her boyfriend Mac (Cotter Smith) disappears from the scene as her life spins more and more out of control (what happened to him?). One of the attitudes prevalent in cases such as these is, "Did she invite this person into her life? Did she ask for it?" Because of Katya's window-dressing, provocative and unique, it seems that many of the viewers at the time and the other characters may have thought so, there was absolutely nothing that she did to make her a victim. It seems that the victims of this crime are the ones that are punished, and Katya is no exception. She has to bar her windows, change her telephone number, stay inside all the time for fear of something happening to her, give up family and friends, and most of all, her sense of security. This is the sad and harsh reality of what stalking victims face. But the turning of the tables is what makes this movie. I recommend this to people who want a different view of stalking and feminism. I love the feminist slant!!! Worthwhile viewing, but don't watch it at night or alone, and be glad there are now anti-stalking laws, because at the time the film was shot, there wasn't. Don't pass up "LADY BEWARE".
under-rated Diane Lane film
leo0808-112 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This could have easily been a GREAT film with a slightly higher budget. Sexy 21-year-old Diane Lane is hired as a trendy window dresser with kinky designs, when she is then stalked by a medical assistant who watches her work from his office next door. The plot is quite straightforward, as Diane strikes up a romantic interest with a friendly magazine reporter... but the classic revenge that young Diane later gets, makes the film well worth watching. She eventually ruins her stalker's personal life very methodically, & then locks him in her store display window with vicious guard dogs. Did I mention the sexy scenes by a young 21-yr-old Diane Lane..??.. This movie is fun for both guys & gals. Lady Beware is probably is more of a PG-13 film, with the exception of just a few times that four letter words are used.
If you love the 80's this is your movie!
craig166629 July 2013
I actually saw this film as a kid in the Wakulla Motel, while waiting for a space shuttle blast. We all learned to bodyboard and watched this film late at night while our minders went to bed. Having searched for 25 years for this film, I can honestly say that it is FREAKING AWESOME!!! It's the adult version of the Kim Cattrall film "Mannequin". No, Really, it is. The story is that a hot girl dresses up windows, complete with "Hollywood" as played by Meshach Taylor and a boyriend as played by John Cusack. This film represents everything that was awesome about the 1980's. Diane Lane is hot without being gratuitous. Lots of ridiculous panty shots (Diane gets home after getting her job and strips down to a satin teddy) but you so buy the character that it dosen't seem outlandish. Believe me, I have actually known girls in Austin that behave exactly this way. The whole film is a warning to women who feel liberated enough to display their sexuality in public. You may very well pick up a guy like this.
Lady Beware is an exotic blend of real life drama
siriusresearcher15 June 2009
Katya is window dresser for a big department store in Pittsburgh, her sensually erotic displays unintentionally attracts the curiosity of Jack; a handsome married serial stalker, who quickly develops an obsession and believes she is seducing him with her windows displays. Her resistance only seem to excite him more, as he becomes bolder and bolder watching her every move to the point of driving the poor woman to a nervous breakdown. But take heart Katya is not the victim for long, and sets out to even the score, the ending culminates with an exciting story climax. Be sure to watch this enthralling story it will make you think twist about who is watching you. I highly recommend it, as a guilty pleasure. Diane Lane performance is sumptuous,the characters are well define, and the story plot and dialogues are expertly written.
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