Cape Fear (1962)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

John D. MacDonald (novel)
James R. Webb (screenplay)

Release Date:

1962 (Norway)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Original Masterpiece Of Revenge, Confrontation And Murder!

Plot:

A lawyer's family is stalked by a man he once helped put in jail.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Dog | Father Daughter Relationship | Police Chief | Strip Search

Cast

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
Barrie Chase	...	Diane Taylor
Paul Comi	...	George Garner
John McKee	...	Officer Marconi
Page Slattery	...	Deputy Kersek
Ward Ramsey	...	Officer Brown
Edward Platt	...	Judge
Will Wright	...	Dr. Pearsall
Joan Staley	...	Waitress
Norma Yost	...	Ticket clerk
Mack Williams	...	Dr. Lowney, Veterinarian
Thomas Newman	...	Lt. Pete Gervasi
Alan Reynolds	...	Attorney Vernon
Herb Armstrong	...	Waiter
Bunny Rhea	...	Pianist
Cindy Carol	...	Betty (as Carol Sydes)
Alan Wells	...	Young blade
Allan Ray	...	Young blade
Paul Levitt	...	Police operator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Elkins	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Joseph Jenkins	...	Janitor (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Extra at Bar / Table Extra at Bar (uncredited)
Marion Landers	...	Cross (uncredited)
Bob Noble	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Al Silvani	...	Man (uncredited)
Josephine Smith	...	Librarian (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
J. Lee Thompson

Writing credits
John D. MacDonald		(novel "The Executioners")
James R. Webb		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sy Bartlett	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Sam Leavitt		(as Samuel Leavitt)

Film Editing by
George Tomasini

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Oliver Emert

Costume Design by
Mary Wills

Makeup Department
Virginia Darcy	....	hair stylist (as Virginia D'Arcy)
Franz Prehoda	....	makeup artist
Thomas Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ernest B. Wehmeyer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Gosnell Jr.	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Corson Jowett	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Stunts
John McKee	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Léo L. Fuchs	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Melville-Talbot Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles

Also Known As:

The Executioners (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1962) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1992) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1969) (cut) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Germany:16 (re-rating) | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Chile:18 | Norway:16 (1962) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Approved (Certificate #20038)

Filming Locations:

Savannah, Georgia, USA

Company:

Melville-Talbot Productions

Trivia:

According to Robert Mitchum, during the filming of the final fight scene between he and Gregory Peck, Peck once accidentally punched him for real. Mitchum, knowing that Peck didn't mean to and ever the professional, refused to break character and continued filming the scene. However, upon entering his trailer, Mitchum said he "literally collapsed" due to the impact of the punch and said that he felt it for days after wards. According to Mitchum: "I don't feel sorry for anyone dumb enough who picks a fight with him (Peck)."

Goofs:

Continuity: The launch in which the Bowden family travels to the houseboat has a full windshield. Later, when Sam leaves by himself, only the windshield's frame is present; the glass is gone.

Quotes:

Sam Bowden: [tries to pay Cady to leave town; Cady wants revenge] You shocking degenerate. I've seen the worst - the dregs - but you... you are the lowest. Makes me sick to breathe the same air.
[leaves the bar]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Duel': A Conversation with Director Steven Spielberg (2004) (V)

Stick With This One: The Original

Boy, this shows that you can still make a scary movie without a lot of blood, profanity and whatever. Hollywood didn't learn that, however, featuring all of it less than a decade after this was made. The Martin Scorcese re-make of this movie is exactly what I'm talking about.

This original Cape Fear was legitimately scary, thanks to the performance of Robert Mitchum, who doesn't need to resort to the f-word to be a tough, sick and really an evil character as he stalks Gregory Peck and his wife (Polly Bergen) and daughter (Lori Martin).

Bergan and Martin are two women I don't see too much in films which is too bad. They did a lot more TV work than movies. Another thing you don't see much anymore - a nice, sympathetic policeman - was also portrayed in here nicely by Martin Balsam.

The ending has some holes in it, to be sure, but overall it offers a good 106- minute suspense story.