Cape Fear (1962)

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 | Rape | Bowling | Backwoods

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:

Director J. Lee Thompson complained at the time that UK censor John Trevelyan had ruined the film by making extensive cuts, and the number of edits suggested ranged from 60 to over 100. Trevelyan later replied that he had made only 15 cuts, totalling around 6 minutes, with edits made to threatening dialogue and assault references, Cady's attack on Peggy, and all shots of him staring longingly at Nancy. All later UK video releases restored the cinema cuts.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sam is at the boat dock he goes into the shop and gets some thinner. As he is leaving the shop he has the thinner in his left hand. Then when he confronts Caty the thinner is gone and then he takes his daughter down the stairs the thinner is never seen again.

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:

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

A Real good one for Thrillers

Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) is a happily married lawyer with a teenage daughter, a quiet life and little worries to care for until released convict Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) moves near by seeking for revenge against him. Cady blames Bowden for his 8 years imprisonment because the lawyer failed to get him an innocent verdict in Court for a serious crime he was accused of (and he had committed). The man starts by stalking Bowden and his family while he waits for the appropriate moment to make his move. In the meantime, Cady does not hide his intentions and Bowden knows perfectly well they are in big trouble.

The film is tense all along and interest doesn't fall at any moment. There is a correct direction by J. Lee Thompson, a slightly more than average director who probably did here one of his best jobs (the other one "The Guns of Navarone" (1962) a very entertaining World War II adventure). Black and white shooting was a good idea and helps to create some sort of sordid and dark atmosphere when required as well as the musical score.

Casting is very good too. Gregory Peck is correct in one of his many common good guy roles. Polly Bergen is believable as the frightened wife and there is also good acting by Martin Balsam (as Bowden's chief of police friend) and Telly Savalas (as a private detective hired to help the family). But the major credit in this issue goes without doubt to Robert Michum's performance as the dangerous avenger. He looks calm and quiet -with few exceptions- all the way to the final climax sequences but you know perfectly the man is real mean and deadly. This surely was one of Mitchum's best appearances in his long film carrier.

The 1991 Cape Fear version with Robert de Niro -although a watchable movie- is not as good and thrilling as this one where evil doesn't appear clearly till the end but menace is always there.

A very good thriller indeed!