Cape Fear
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Movie Reviews of Cape Fear
Movie Review: "Riveting from the First Frame to the Last ... J. Lee Thompson (Director)"
Summary: 5 Stars
Universal Pictures presents "CAPE FEAR" (12 April 1962) (105 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Small-town lawyer Sam Bowden's (Gregory Peck) life becomes torturous when Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) re-enters his life --- Cady went to jail for 8 years after Bowden testified that Cady attacked a young woman --- Now that Cady has been released, he begins to terrorize Bowden and his family, particularly targeting Bowden's daughter, Nancy.
Riveting from the first frame to last --- Well shot, with excellent performances from the entire cast, and a great Bernard Herrmann score.
Under the production staff of:
J. Lee Thompson [Director]
John D. MacDonald [novel "The Executioners"]
James R. Webb [Screenwriter]
Sy Bartlett [Producer]
Bernard Herrmann [Film Score]
Sam Leavitt [Cinematographer]
George Tomasini [Film Editor]
BIOS:
1. J. Lee Thompson [Director]
Date of Birth: 1 August 1914 - Bristol, England, UK
Date of Death: 30 August 2002 - Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
2. Gregory Peck [aka: Eldred Gregory Peck]
Date of Birth: 5 April 1916 - La Jolla, California
Date of Death: 12 June 2003 - Los Angeles, California
3. Robert Mitchum [aka: Robert Charles Durman Mitchum]
Date of Birth: 6 August 1917 - Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date of Death: 1 July 1997 - Santa Barbara, California
4. Polly Bergen [aka: Nellie Paulina Burgin]
Date of Birth: 14 July 1930 - Knoxville, Tennessee
Date of Death: Still Living
the cast includes:
Gregory Peck - Sam Bowden
Robert Mitchum - Max Cady
Polly Bergen - Peggy Bowden
Lori Martin - Nancy Bowden
Martin Balsam - Police Chief Mark Dutton
Jack Kruschen - Attorney Dave Grafton
Telly Savalas - Private Detective Charles Sievers
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 105 min on DVD ~ Universal Pictures ~ (09/18/2001)
Movie Review: Once again, older is better!
Summary: 5 Stars
Originals are almost always superior to remakes, and that holds true here. I like Robert DeNiro as an actor, but Robert Mitchum absolutely shines as Max Cady. I totally agree with others who have stated Robert Mitchum's talents were never fully appreciated. And his role in Cape Fear showcases his versatility as compared to other Mitchum films such as "Heaven Knows Mr. Allison" or "The Sundowners".Mitchum's character Max Cady serves as a constant reminder that there are just plain bad people in this world. Not necessarily warped or sick (such as Anthony Perkins in "Psycho"), but just plain bad. No rehabilitation for this guy. After nearly a decade in jail his first thought is to seek revenge on the lawyer that helped put him there. Sure, he could have beaten Gregory Peck to a pulp or simply killed him, but that would have been too easy. Cady decides to torment Peck by threatening his family, a far scarier prospect for any husband and father.
Director Lee Thompson puts Mitchum's looming physical presence to good use, giving us a number of shots of his larger than life chest (sometimes it almost appears as though Mitchum inhales and holds it in, but that's nit-picking). He's not "cut" by today's body-building standards, but that makes him all the more believable and menacing. It's clear Peck (nor few other men) would be a match for him, not to mention Mitchum's "girlfriend". Oh, I forgot. Cady likes to beat her in his spare time. (Like I said, just a bad person).
But it's Mitchum's acting that's the grease of this movie. His shifty half-open eyes, his delivery and movements. It's definitely an unforgettable performance. Peck is fine as good-guy Sam Bodden - it's certainly not his best performance but he does strike a fine balance of hate and fear from Cady's constant threats. And the storyline flows nicely with a slow and steady build-up of terror.
Don't bother with the Scorsese version unless your put off by "old" movies in "black and white". This is the real thing!
Movie Review: Top Notch Thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
The original version of Cape Fear is as thrilling in its presentation as any modern thriller or suspense. It has a dark mood to it, creepiness, and requires a sense of restlessness on the part of the audience: all important facets to suspense. The dark mood of the film is personified within the first ten minutes of the film, as we see the malicious ex-con Max Cody (played by Robert Mitchum) lurk in the background of the court and then finally confront the man who he seeks revenge on, lawyer Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck). Bowden doesn't immediately recognize Cody, and this only seems to engage his sinister nature even more. Bowden, from this point on, must do all he can to protect not only himself, but his family against this man.
Perhaps what makes this film work is simply Mitchum's performance of Max Cody. There is a despicable nature about Cody, a hard-edge persona there for the viewer to see, but there is still something else about his mannerisms that really get under your skin. Unlike some outright villains, he is not so much an open book as manipulative in temperament. Instead of raging and raising his voice at injustices, he has a smirk on his face and a calm manner while planning and plotting, and this makes him even more mysterious and malevolent. He is a quintessential bad guy, and probably ranks among the most despicable characters in film history simply because of his relentlessness and perversion.
Without giving too much away, if there was one blemish, it would be the seemingly rushed ending of the film. It was somewhat satisfying, but it seemed as though there would be more to tell at the end. This, however, does not take away from the performances, and the over all affect of the film. Great movie to watch if you want to see a top-notch thriller!
4 1/2 stars
Movie Review: What an awesome film!
Summary: 5 Stars
After eight years, four months, and thirteen days in prison, Max Cady(Robert Mitchum) decides to go after the man who was responsible for his conviction. The man he targets is a man named Sam Bowden(Gregory Peck), an attorney who was a witness to Cady's crime.
Gregory Peck does well, but his performance is overshadowed by the performance of Robert Mitchum. Mitchum injects his character with such an intensity that one look at him and you KNOW he's dangerous, no question. One of his best scenes is when he's at the bar and the police want to interrogate him. As one cop tries to restrain him with a small club, he states, "You start reachin' for those you better call for the riot squad, man." He doesn't bellow this out, but he says it with such an assertive, dangerous tone that you know right away that the cops should just back off. Also, the way that Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum act together on screen, man that's the stuff that movie legends are made of.
Mitchum and Peck aren't alone, however, as Martin Balsam and Telly Savalas are on hand to provide fine support as a police chief and a private detective, respectively.
The sets have such a realistic look to them, and they succeed in pulling the viewer into the story. The crisp black-and-white cinematography gives the picture a suspenseful edge, but if this movie was made in color, it just would not have that same edge that made it so good.
I know it's over forty years old, but "Cape Fear" is really an awesome film! It is far superior to all the "suspense" nonsense that is released today. Its performances and photography combine to provide a flawless, terrific viewing experience.
Movie Review: Masterpiece of Suspense
Summary: 5 Stars
J. Lee Thompson directs this sophisticated cat and mouse thriller starring Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck. Mitchum gives a marvelous performance as Max Cady, the calm yet menacing Max Cady, an ex-con who has been paroled from prison after serving eight years for rape (the word "rape" is never said throughout the entire movie, because back in the times, it wasn't allowed by the censors, but it is implied.) Cady wants revenge on the lawyer who sent him to prison, Sam Bowden, portrayed brilliantly with strong assurance, yet fearfulness by Gregory Peck. He is a man who loves his wife and daughter with all his heart, and soon, Cady begins implying threats involving them. Bowden tries taking matters into his own hands, but it goes awry, and the result is a suspenseful battle between good and evil on Cape Fear River. This film is an absolute classic, with plenty of suspense, witty one-liners, a classic score, and exquisite directing, writing, and performances. It's a movie that the whole family could basically watch, because it's not all that inappropriate for today's times, and not too scary, just a good movie! I don't see why, however, this movie and the remake must be compared so much! The remake is a remake, it is a totally separate thing. The remake, directed by Scorsese, was much more brutal in its depiction, but still a great film. I don't see why people can't just look at it as it's own movie. Anyway, this is a terrific movie that I highly recommend.