Cape Fear
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.82 You Save: $7.16 (48%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.71 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Cape Fear
Movie Review: Nail biters beware.
Summary: 5 Stars
It was common practice by the sixties for actors to produce their own films and then arrange distribution deals with the major studios, which was a trend born in the late forties that signaled the dwindling of the old Hollywood studio system. There was Burt Lancaster, one of the first, who created his company in '48, Humphrey Bogart and Santana, John Wayne and Batjac, and now we have the stars of our movie, Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, coming together to co-produce this menacing peek into good and evil that no doubt left audiences wet in their seats. Peck had been searching for a thriller and found the right ingredients in John MacDonald's book The Executioners. James Webb threw together a script based on the novel and Peck himself supplied the title for the movie when, after scouring the eastern seaboard for apt-sounding locations, came across the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.
Gregory Peck stars as Sam Bowden, a southern lawyer with the ideal southern wife, Peggy (Polly Bergen), the ideal teenage daughter, Nancy (Lori Martin), and an ideal life, with a dog, a spacious home, and good standing in the community. But this veneer of comfort is soon disrupted when ex-con Max Cady (Mitchum) pops up after "eight years, four months, and fourteen days" in prison, a stretch he heaps completely on Sam's "unjust" doing because Sam was a key eyewitness in Max's conviction for brutally assaulting a woman. He proceeds to play a cat and mouse game of stalking Bowden and his family, and Sam is legally powerless to do anything to stop Cady, despite the help of the local police chief (Martin Balsam) and a private detective (Telly Savalas). Eventually, he pays to have three local ruffians beat Cady up in an attempt to make him leave town, and when this backfires, Sam finds himself possibly facing disbarment. Required to attend a hearing on the matter out of town, Sam uses the opportunity to set a trap for Cady. He arranges for his wife and daughter to spend time at a houseboat on the Cape Fear River, hoping that Cady will try for them. Meanwhile, Sam secrets himself in the swamp near the houseboat in hopes of catching Cady in the act and then dealing with him once and for all.
Notice also how the word "rape" is never used in the film. Censor codes prohibited it, and demanded that there be no overtones that Cady plans to rape Nancy, the daughter, but it is apparent that's just what he means to do, both in dialogue ("Your daughter is getting to be just as juicy as your wife") and in action (when Nancy becomes trapped alone in a house with Cady).
This was the same year Peck won his only Oscar for his role as Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the year following his starring role in the great WWII espionage thriller The Guns of Navarone, so he was really at his career's peak. Even though he's the star in our film, it's Mitchum's party all the way. His performance here is deadly. He plays with such deftness a man balancing his seething inner venom with an exterior that is reserved and almost genial, always peering out with his trademark sedated quality, with those hooded eyes. Despite the dreadful things we already know about him - that he abuses women, his prison sentence, his stalking the Bowdens - what we don't know about him is infinitely enthralling. He even arouses morsels of sympathy when he informs Sam over a drink how his wife and kid left him when he went to prison.
Peck's problem is that his character is so idealized that he really doesn't have much dramatic legroom - Sam and Peg never squabble, he has a good relationship with his daughter, he leads a Leave-It-To-Beaver kind of life, so there's no tension in those areas. One of the changes Martin Scorsese made in his 1991 remake of Cape Fear was balancing the character of Sam Bowden with that of Max Cady by injecting more dramatic friction in the Bowden family. In the remake, Sam sleeps around on his wife, they lead a tenuous marriage, and his relationship with his daughter suffers because of it. However, Peck does go through considerable turmoil as he is stretched to the limits in his strife to counter the threat Cady poses, and seeing Gregory Peck, a man portrayed throughout cinema as a model of righteousness, eventually plot to kill Cady in cold blood is quite thrilling.
Movie Review: CAPE FEAR--A Masterful Combination Of Horror And Film Noir
Summary: 5 Stars
Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror masterpiece PSYCHO basically opened the door for future psychological horror and thriller films to follow. And it wasn't too long before the effects of that film were felt in Hollywood. Witness the 1962 thriller CAPE FEAR, a genuinely chilling combination of horror and film noir elements that has lost very little of its punch, despite a much more explicit remake of it by Martin Scorsese in 1991.
Based on John D. MacDonald's novel "The Executioners", CAPE FEAR stars Gregory Peck, in a role not far removed from the one he got an Oscar for in '62 (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD), as Sam Bowden, an upstanding lawyer in Savannah, Georgia whose life is about to be turned upside down by the reappearance of an ex-con, Max Cady (Robert Mitchum, in an unconscious portrayal of villainy). Eight years before, Peck's testimony sent Mitchum to prison on a rape conviction. And Mitchum hasn't forgotten it. His presence in Savannah begins with the mere harrassment of Peck and his wife (Polly Bergen) and daughter (Lori Martin), something that Mitchum knows the cops can't do anything about (he's read a lot about the law while stewing in prison). But the taunts grow progressively nastier, with the family dog being poisoned, and soon Peck thinks of uncoventional ways of getting Mitchum into trouble. In the end, of course, Peck crosses the line between family protector and vengeance seeker, and Mitchum vows to get back at him in the worst possible way. The film climaxes on the sweltering Cape Fear River along the North Carolina/South Carolina border.
Although one can say that the film is dated in terms of lacking explicit sex and violence (something that Scorsese, depending on one's point of view, either redressed or exploited in his remake), CAPE FEAR is nevertheless a chilling study in the ways of the law and how some laws have loopholes that stalkers like Mitchum exploit to their advantage. J. Lee Thompson, who directed Peck in the 1961 World War II classic THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, navigates the way superbly in true Hitchcockian fashion, without being so blatantly imitative of the portly Master of Suspense. Peck, as always seemed to be the case throughout his career, does an incredible job, as do Bergen and Martin as his family. Martin Balsam, who played the doomed P.I. in PSYCHO, is also fine as the local police chief, and Telly Savalas is a P.I. who gives Peck some unconventional advice on how to handle Mitchum. And Mitchum, of course, is an incredible presence--oozing menace and evil with the same don't-give-a-damn attitude that served him in the 1955 cult classic NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. CAPE FEAR is topped off by the fine black-and-white cinematography of Sam Leavitt and a hugely menacing score by Hitchcock's favorite composer Bernard Herrmann.
Like two other films released in 1962 (LOLITA; THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) that have been remade in recent times, CAPE FEAR really didn't need to be remade for this era just because the censorship restrictions that were in place back then no longer exist. This film is frightening enough without any added sex, blood, or gore, and it remains so to this day, thanks to a great cast, a fantastic script, and Thompson's solid direction.
Movie Review: Have No Fear? Get Some NOW!
Summary: 5 Stars
The late great classic acting talents of Robert Mitchum are showcased in this 1962 classic, reproving his ability to play the villain with unsurpassed expertise, as in the former 1955 classic "Night of The Hunter".
Here, Mitchum plays Max Cady, a menacing figure with a perpetual lit cigar and Panama Hat. He has come to town after being released from jail to visit and wreak revenge on the man who put him there, enter Sam, played by Gregory Peck. From their initial reunion in the town parking lot, Cady lets Peck have a peek at what's on his mind. From that moment on, there are grippingly suspenseful encounters between the two men and even worse, threats to his wife played by Polly Bergen, and his daughter, in a rather ineffectual role considering what she goes through when encountering Cady. Particularly amusing is a scene in the beginning of the film. Cady casually watches the family bowl, while harrassing a waitress and having a beer. The expression on Pecks face as his Sam character looks up, and spots those sinister leering eyes peering from a nearby table at his family, is classic.
What needs to be mentioned more than the great direction, pacing and script, is the believabilty of the sociopath depicted, that Mitchum brings to startling low-life on the screen. He is truly mesmerizing in his sleepy-eyed evil countenance. His gaze, cigar in mouth, hat pulled low, will raise your hair as you watch him. He moves toward his victims in a slow and deliberate manner, and speaks his lines with that commanding voice that he was so famous for. When picked up for questioning, he hilariously mocks Pecks' Sam, calling him casually by name, "Why, Say-im..." and then as "counselor" refering to his lawyer status. My favorite Mitchum line here?"You might want to look closer, I've got a few jolts of horse stashed under the collar." as he hands over his shirt to the police. The other great line is to Peck in a bar, as he lets him know that he can't be bought off. When speaking of his dear ex-wife, "Pumped a quart of whiskey in her, tore off her dress, threw away her shoes, and gave her a fair chance to work her way home..." Needless to say, pretty daring for it's time. You will have to find out the rest for yourself, like the scene with the drifter girl Mitchum picks up, and of course, the showdown.
Don't even think that Martin Scorcese's subsequent remake comes close to this classic. The excessively demented southern accent and preponderance of large tattoo's on DeNiro, don't make him more frightening than Mitchums' original take on the Max Cady character. Mitchum's subtle style of menacing, which seems paradoxical, but works, is far more effective at eliciting the viewers rapt attention. Besides, the Scorcese version got mired in outside subjects like infidelity from Nick Noltes version of Sam, what for? Let's face it, the original doesn't need any additional subplots to be entertaining.
"Cape Fear" is a strange title, refering to the very real location of the story, while it also serves as a perfect double entendre for the utter fright Robert Mitchum delivers within, in an unparalleled style. Don't miss this classic.
Movie Review: Purely classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
The 1962 version of "Cape Fear" is a classic horror movie in every sense of the word, with its high-pitched, screaming soundtrack, its acting, and the story that strays away from the violence seen in today's movies, but still takes a daring step for its time. Director J. Lee Thompson weaves suspense into every moment through his pacing, and with the help of gifted actors Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, who play the cat-and-mouse battle exquisitely.Peck is Sam Bowden, an attorney who begins to suspect that recently released convict Max Cady, played by Mitchum, is after his family in a game of revenge. Bowden testimony against Cady is what put him away for eight years, and Cady is out for more than just a monetary payoff. As he watches the Bowden family, he is careful not to overstep the boundaries of the law, which makes it increasingly difficult for Bowden to bring him up on any charge.
Bowden soon realizes that the only avenue of protection for his family is to set a trap for Cady, prove that he is out to harm his wife and child, and have him either arrested or killed on the spot. This leads to the famed showdown on Cape Fear, in which Cady brings out the family's worst nightmares.
It's interesting to watch thrillers from this day and age, and compare it to the tactics used in such movies as "Cape Fear." In a society where we resort to such violent and gruesome tactics in movies, sometimes it's nice to escape that and find something out of the norm. The scene in this film in which Cady physically oppresses Bowden's wife only gives off the impression that rape is almost inevitable, but to see her face frozen in that moment of utter fear is as frightening and eye-opening as anything Hollywood can dish up.
The movie plays with the audience on many occasions, with effective results. A scene involving Bowden's daughter running from the pursuing Cady is charged with suspense, though in the end, he was not the one coming after her. Much like it's main protagonist, we are left in the dark as to solid evidence to convince us of Cady's guilt in such crimes as poisoning the family dog, leaving us to invest our own opinion in the characters.
This is an easy task, given the stellar acting from the two male leads. Gregory Peck portrays a man driven to the end of his rope quite well, and the inner collapse we see in Sam Bowden is given a believable complexity. It is Robert Mitchum, however, who steals the show with his heart-stopping performance as Cady, evoking a subtle chill that permeates the entire movie. His ability to portray a character who remains calm in the most disturbing moments makes his performance a stand-out, one to be heralded for its authenticity and true-to-life nature.
"Cape Fear" will go down as a classic, and deserves such a fate. It is the ideal model of a classic thriller, and it proves at many times that there is such a thing as subtle terror instead of big gross-out effects that will keep the audience in the mindset of the movie. I look at the picture as nothing more than a suitable thriller that's a bit risky for its time period, and it works well.
Movie Review: Fearful "Cape"
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes, the most terrifying monsters are the ones that look just like humans.
And one such monster is at the heart of "Cape Fear," one of the most harrowing movies from Hollywood's golden age. Rather than a straightforward thriller, this movie explores how sometimes both crime and justice can go outside the law -- and how far some people will go for revenge.
Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) sent Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) to prison for rape, eight years ago. Now Cady has been released, and is determined to settle the old score -- and Bowden's wife and teenage daughter are next. Bowden tries to get the police to help, but until Cady breaks a law, they can't do anything.
And so Cady begins his vendetta against Bowden -- he stalks Bowden's daughter and poisons the dog. He rapes a young woman, then frightens her into not telling. As Bowden's life becomes a living nightmare, he knows that he will have to go outside the law to deal with Cady -- and he'll have to set a trap.
Hitchcock would have been jealous. Not many movies -- even of his movies -- create the sense of pure evil that "Cape Fear" does. Stalking laws didn't exist back then, and so until a crime was committed and charges were pressed, the police literally could not do a thing.
And that conflict is the heart of "Cape Fear." As a lawyer, Bowden believes firmly in the justice of law at the beginning, but that is shattered when Cady uses the law for himself. J. Lee Thompson illustrates how law and justice aren't the same thing -- Cady is evil but works within the law, while Bowden must go vigilante to keep his innocent family safe.
And J. Lee Thompson does a great job creating this nightmare. Ominous music, shadowy sets, and taut, terrifying sequences that seem a little too real, such as when Cady relentlessly pursues little Nancy around the school. And the dialogue is as tight as the plot ("We're gonna nurse you back to health. And you're strong, Cady. You're gonna live a long life... in a cage!").
Peck and Mitchum are absolutely amazing in this movie. Few actors could pull off the cold, calculating evil of Mitchum's Cady. Rape, murder, pedophilia -- you name it, he'll do it. Peck is equally outstanding as the devoted father and husband, but he is at his best when Bowden is slowly being stretched to the breaking point.
"Cape Fear" is the sort of horror story that can happen in real life, and Peck and Mitchum's performances elevate it into a classic. Absolutely terrifying, amazingly made.