Cape Fear (1991)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

13 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light. Except fear.

Plot:

A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

Plot Keywords:

Rape | Revenge | River | Psychopath | Cigar Smoking

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Max Cady
Nick Nolte	...	Sam Bowden
Jessica Lange	...	Leigh Bowden
Juliette Lewis	...	Danielle Bowden
Joe Don Baker	...	Claude Kersek
Robert Mitchum	...	Lieutenant Elgart
Gregory Peck	...	Lee Heller
Martin Balsam	...	Judge
Illeana Douglas	...	Lori Davis
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Tom Broadbent
Zully Montero	...	Graciella
Craig Henne	...	Prisoner
Forest Burton	...	Prisoner
Edgar Allan Poe IV	...	Prisoner
Rod Ball	...	Prisoner
W. Paul Bodie	...	Prisoner
Joel Kolker	...	Corrections Officer
Antoni Corone	...	Corrections Officer
Tamara Jones	...	Ice Cream Cashier
Roger Pretto	...	Racquetball Colleague
Parris Buckner	...	Racquetball Colleague
Margot Moreland	...	Secretary
Will Knickerbocker	...	Detective
Robert L. Gerlach	...	Arresting Officer
Bruce E. Holdstein	...	Arresting Officer
Richard Wasserman	...	Parade Watcher
Paul Nagle Jr.	...	Parade Watcher
Paul Froehler	...	Parade Watcher
Mary Ellen O'Brien	...	Parade Watcher
Jody Wilson	...	Parade Watcher
C.C. Costigan	...	Waitress (as Kate Colburn)
Domenica Cameron-Scorsese	...	Danny's Girlfriend (as Domenica Scorsese)
Gar Stephen	...	Big Man #1
Billy D. Lucas	...	Big Man #2 (as Billy Lucas)
Ken Collins	...	Big Man #3
Linda Perri	...	Ticket Agent
Elizabeth Moyer	...	Ticket Agent
Catherine Scorsese	...	Fruitstand Customer
Charles Scorsese	...	Fruitstand Customer
Jackie Davis	...	Jimmy the Dockmaster

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

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

Produced by
Barbara De Fina	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	executive producer
Robert De Niro	....	producer (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Thelma Schoonmaker

Production Design by
Henry Bumstead

Art Direction by
Jack G. Taylor Jr.

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Costume Design by
Rita Ryack

Makeup Department
Stephan Dupuis	....	special burn makeup (as Stephan L. Dupuis)
Donna Battersby Greene	....	hair stylist (as Donna Greene)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	hair stylist: Mr. Nolte (as Edouard F. Henriques III)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist: Mr. Nolte (as Edouard F. Henriques III)
Ilona Herman	....	hair stylist: Mr. De Niro
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist: Mr. De Niro
Elizabeth Lambert	....	makeup artist
Neal Martz	....	special makeup effects artist
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange (as Dorothy Pearl)
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lange
Jo-Anne Smith-Ojeil	....	assistant special burn makeup

Production Management
Deborah Lee	....	unit production manager
Margery Mailman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Deborah Lupard	....	second second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (as Joseph Reidy)
Nathalie Vadim	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard Adee	....	property master
Wally Adee	....	assistant property master (as Walter Adee)
Michael Calabrese	....	set dresser
Robert Crowley	....	set dresser
Robert Cuevas	....	carpenter
Gary Dunham	....	propman
Stephen P. Durante	....	stand-by set dresser (as Stephen Durante)
Gabriel C. Ell	....	construction coordinator (as Gabriel Ell)
Adrian Gorton	....	assistant art director
Joe Griffith	....	production illustrator (as Joseph F. Griffith Jr.)
David C. Hardie	....	carpenter
James Harris	....	carpenter
Eric Helfritz	....	set dresser
Richard Howarth	....	set dresser
Richard F. Malone Jr.	....	carpenter
Regina McLarney	....	assistant set decorator (as Regina Marie McLarney)
Michael Metzel	....	construction foreman
Al Mouradian	....	greensman (as Albert Mouradian)
Kevin Oates	....	lead set dresser
Theodore Pappas	....	set dresser
J. Randy Peterson	....	set dresser
Genessa Goldsmith Proctor	....	head scenic artist
John R. Salemi	....	stand-by painter
Cary Whittaker	....	greensman (as Cary Whitaker)
Susan Inge Wood	....	scenic foreman
Michael J. Flynn	....	on-set greensman (uncredited)
Greg Koronowicz	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Jeremy Alan Read	....	greensman (uncredited)
Barbara S. Shelton	....	painter (uncredited)
Ginny Walsh	....	property fabricator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andy Aaron	....	sound effects recordist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
William Docker	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kenton Jakub	....	assistant sound editor
Brian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	dialogue editor
Tod A. Maitland	....	production sound mixer (as Tod Maitland)
Sylvia Menno	....	assistant sound editor
T.J. O'Mara	....	boom operator (as Terence J. O'Mara)
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Shari Schwartz	....	apprentice sound editor
Gail Showalter	....	adr editor
Philip Stockton	....	supervising dialogue editor
Kevin M. Tromer	....	cable person
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Mel Zelniker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David A. Duvall	....	special effects
Cary Jones	....	special effects
J.B. Jones	....	special effects coordinator
J.B. Jones Jr.	....	special effects
John Patteson	....	special effects (as John F. Patteson)
James L. Roberts	....	special effects foreman (as James L. Roberts II)
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Syd Dutton	....	matte painting and special optical effects: Illusion Arts Inc.
Susie Ford	....	production manager: The Magic Camera Company
José Granell	....	art director: The Magic Camera Company
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	matte special rigging: Illusion Arts Inc.
Roger Lofting	....	producer: The Magic Camera Company
Derek Meddings	....	miniature special effects supervisor: The Magic Camera Company
John Morgan	....	first camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photography: Illusion Arts Inc.
Robert Stromberg	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts Inc.
Catherine Sudolcan	....	production manager: Illusion Arts Inc.
Bill Taylor	....	matte painting and special optical effects: Illusion Arts Inc.
Jonathan Taylor	....	second camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical photography: Illusion Arts Inc.
Paul Wilson	....	director of photography: The Magic Camera Company
Angus Bickerton	....	focus puller: model unit (uncredited)
David Carrigan	....	first assistant director: visual effects unit (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	focus puller: model unit (uncredited)
Antony Hunt	....	executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (uncredited)
Andy Stevens	....	camera assistant: model unit, Magic Camera Company (uncredited)

Stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts (as Daniel Barringer)
Doug Coleman	....	stunt double: Mr. De Niro
Leon Delaney	....	stunt coordinator
Donna Evans	....	stunt double: Ms. Lange
Marcia Holley	....	stunt double: Ms. Lewis
Billy Judkins	....	stunts
Don Pulford	....	stunt double: Mr. Nolte (as Don Polford)
Bob Stephens	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Bunting	....	grip (as Keith Bunting Jr.)
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Don Cerrone	....	key grip
Jose Cue	....	electrician (as José Cue)
Gene Engels	....	gaffer
Peter Farber	....	camera loader
Michael Fedack	....	dolly grip (as Michael John Fedack)
Phil Green	....	electrician (as Philip Green)
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
William Hines	....	rigging gaffer
Jamie Klein	....	grip
Edward Knott III	....	grip
Ed Knott Jr.	....	rigging grip (as Edward Knott Jr.)
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera
Greg Patterson	....	set lighting technician
John Piccolo	....	grip
Charles Quinlivan	....	best boy grip
Pete Romano	....	underwater director of photography: second unit, "Barn Shoot"
Gary Schwab	....	grip
John Sheeren	....	second assistant camera
John Sider	....	electrician
John Smith	....	best boy
Steve Spallone	....	electrician (as Steven Spallone)
John Winner	....	additional camera operator
Wayne Baker	....	underwater assistant camera: "barn shoot", second unit (uncredited)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant Steadicam (uncredited)
Chris Hayes	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Gary Ryan	....	electrician (uncredited)
Owen Stephens	....	electrician: rigging crew (uncredited)
Bob Wright	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ellen Lewis	....	casting
Patricia Wilson	....	principal casting assistant
Ellen Jacoby	....	casting: Florida (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vivian Cocheo	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Vivian J. Cocheo)
Kathleen Gerlach	....	assistant costume designer
Linda Hamilton	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Carolyn Calvert	....	apprentice editor (as Carolyn J. Horton)
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
Joel Hirsch	....	apprentice editor
Nell Kelly	....	assistant editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	assistant editor
Cara Silverman	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Diana Barry	....	assistant music editor
Elmer Bernstein	....	Bernard Herrmann's original score adapted by
Emilie A. Bernstein	....	orchestrator
Emile Charlap	....	orchestra contractor
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
Shawn Murphy	....	music scoring mixer
Christopher Palmer	....	music consultant

Transportation Department
Walter 'Red' Bedell	....	driver (as Red Bedell)
Dick Boyles	....	driver
Connie Lee Brown	....	driver (as Connie Brown)
Ben Coney	....	transportation co-captain
Todd Dickison	....	driver
Pete Dilella	....	driver
Bill Girard	....	driver
Olga González	....	driver (as Olga Gonzalez)
Edward Haber	....	driver (as Eddie Haber)
George Hamilton	....	driver
Charlie Joe	....	driver (as Joe Charlie)
Clarence Lark III	....	driver
Joyce M. Lark	....	transportation captain
Eddie Manson	....	driver
Verdell Owen	....	driver (as Verdell Owens)
Richard P. Pecora	....	driver (as Richie Pecora)
Matt Watson	....	driver
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Jeffrey T. Barabe	....	production assistant
Elaine Bass	....	title sequence by
Saul Bass	....	title sequence by
Eric Berg	....	assistant: Mr. Nolte (as Eric C. Berg)
Andrew Bernstein	....	production assistant
Marion Billings	....	publicist
Will Brantley	....	craft service (as Will A. Brantley)
Kristin Cameron	....	production assistant
Robin Chambers	....	assistant: Mr. De Niro
Sam Chwat	....	speech and dialect coach: N.Y. Speech Improvement Services
Noreen Compton	....	production assistant
Rob Covington	....	production assistant
Mort Fallick	....	title production supervisor
Michael Feder	....	production assistant
Jeff Fisher	....	production assistant
Erin Garcia	....	production assistant
Alan Greenberg	....	field researcher
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
Moby Griffin	....	marine coordinator (as Moby John Griffin)
Katy Harris	....	production assistant
Dan Harvey	....	personal fitness trainer: Mr. De Niro
Michael Jackman	....	post-production accountant
Julia Judge	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese
Doug Kraft	....	paramedic
Diane L. Langone	....	assistant auditor
Shelly Latham	....	additional voice (as Shelley Latham)
Lisa Maniscalco	....	assistant production coordinator
Douglas C. Merrifield	....	technical coordinator: second unit, "Barn Shoot" (as Douglas Merrifield)
Chuck Parello	....	production assistant
Allison Procacci	....	assistant: Ms. De Fina
Celia Randolph	....	production coordinator
Hardy Rawls	....	additional voice
Juan Ros	....	set production assistant
Craig Sechler	....	additional voice
Patrick Selts	....	paramedic
Lucille Smith	....	production auditor (as Lucille Masone Smith)
Christina Stauffer	....	production assistant (as Christina J. Stauffer)
Christopher Swartout	....	production assistant
Kitty Terry	....	assistant location manager
Kai Thorup	....	production assistant
Sherry Thorup	....	location manager
Joe Violante	....	laboratory coordinator: Technicolor
Rebecca Weymouth	....	production assistant
Corey B. Yugler	....	script supervisor
D. Rex Downham	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Judith Fitzsimmons	....	body double: Jessica Lange (uncredited)
Judith Fitzsimmons	....	stand-in: Jessica Lange (uncredited)
R. Emmett Fitzsimmons	....	dialogue assistant (uncredited)
Theresa Marsh	....	second assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Kenny Rivenbark	....	remote head technician (uncredited)
Sherrill Smith	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment (presents)
• Cappa Films (in association with) (presents)
• Tribeca Productions (in association with) (presents)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal An MCA Company)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• MCA Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Argentina)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Effects House, The
• Illusion Arts (matte paintings and special optical effects)
• Magic Camera Company, The

Other Companies

• Breaktime  catering
• Ellen Jacoby Casting  extras casting
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facilities
• Temptu  tattoos
• Trademark Animal Talent  "Benjamin" owned by

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, and for language.

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (video rating) (2001) | Finland:K-16 (1992) (cut) (video rating) | Finland:K-18 (1992) (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:R | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | India:A | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Israel:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

When Steven Spielberg was attached to direct he had plans on casting Bill Murray as Max Cady.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the end of the film, Sam Bowden says that he had to go to hearings before the American Bar Association as a result of his criminal actions toward Cady. But the ABA doesn't license lawyers, nor does it have the authority to disbar them. It is a lobbying group. Bowden would have had to go before the Georgia Bar Association, given that that the crime occurred in that state.

Quotes:

[repeated phrase]
Max Cady: Counselor.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Mortal Sins

The climaxes are emblematic of the differences between Scorcese's version and the original. In 1962, Mitchum was ordinary, ironic, sneaky. Peck was Peck. And the climax was quiet. Crickets chirped. There was no wind. Bodies crept around in black shadows or splashed together in shallow water. In this one, Nolte is a lawyer who has broken the code and DeNiro is his nemesis, tatooed, obscene, half his face burned off, a raving maniac. Not sinister, just absolutely loco. And the confrontation is situated in a howling gale, earsplitting noise, rushing rapids, the groan of fiberglass hull splitting on rocks, blood all over the place.

I don't know that one version is in any objective sense better than the other, although I vastly prefer the earlier version. I liked Mitchum's character better. He was quite ordinary in an extraordinary way. But from the beginning DeNiro seems to overplay the role. His accent, redolent of grits and red-eye gravy, seems to sit uncomfortably on him (maybe he's played in too many New York movies), whereas Mitchum's sly Southern drawl comes out oh so naturally. And that sinister grin of Mitchum's is worth a dozen lessons at the Actor's Studio.

But there is one scene in which DeNiro outdoes Mitchum in terms of sheer impact. It's when the wrecked houseboat is being swept out into the raging river with DeNiro shackled to a stanchion about to be drowned. DeNiro launches into this fit of screaming nonsense and singing gibberish hymns, insane in a way you'll never be. It's an explosive performance.

Juliette Lewis is remarkable too. Her "umms" and "ahhs" and other hesitations fit her barely nubile personality exactly. Her scene with DeNiro in the mock Schwarzwald of the high school auditorium is impossible not to admire. Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange turn in professional performances, as do the other principal actors.

I'm not sure why I like the earlier version better. Maybe because it was so awesomely simple a story compared to this one. There was good and there was evil. We all know the world doesn't work that way, but it's fascinating to watch a simple-minded tale being spun out like a well-told fairy story. This one invites us to think about things. Unlike Lori Martin in 1962, Juliette Lewis gets a temporary case of the hots for the well-read and manipulative ex-con. And unlike Peck in 1962, Nolte has committed sins. He held back information that might have helped his client, DeNiro, because he was convinced that DeNiro was guilty and should be put away. I can't figure out what Jessica Lange or the dog did, but everybody has to be redeemed anyway because of original sin. Scorcese's Catholicism may be showing.

Overall, this is flashier in every respect than the original -- more guns, more blood, more "force majeur" -- and maybe that's part of the problem. At times it looks as much like pandering to an audience of kids raised on MTV's quick cuts and sexy bodies and on Sly Stallone's action movies. I mean that at times it felt like the movie was talking down to the audience.

Still, it's an interesting movie in its own right. Not badly done. But I wish they'd stop pushing out remakes of classics. Leave well enough alone because otherwise you're liable to find yourself in Dante's Purgatorio.