Cape Fear (1962) [Blu-ray]

This is a great B & W movie. It runs through a gamut of morality issues. How much will a man go through to protect his family. How much evil can vengeance can one human being harbor in them. Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum are great in their lead roles

Although it missed it's 50th Anniversary by a few weeks, Universal still deserves a lot of credit for this absolutely stunning blu ray(black & white) of a most frightening film and I'm not talking about their classic monsters. The "monster" in this case is the menacing, sadistic and revenge seeking character called Max Cady brilliantly played by Robert Mitchum in one of his greatest roles. Stalking was not as well known in 1962 as it is today so this film is certainly ahead of it's time in that regard. Mitchum's Cady not only violates women mentally but physically as well. And his revenge stalking of the lawyer(played by Gregory Peck) and well as his wife(Polly Bergen) and young daughter(Lori Martin) not only cause them all mental anguish but place them in physical danger as well. It's a story that could be pulled today's headlines. Robert Mitchum was a very underrated actor who was usually cast in good guy roles. But when he played a bad guy like the phony preacher in "Night of the Hunter" or the psychopath he plays in this film, he could send chills down your spine. According to the excellent special feature that accompanies this blu ray, director J. Lee Thompson says that Mitchum told him to stay out of his way and he did. The result was one of most evil characters ever put on film. Watching this film again after so many years I'm still amazed how Mitchum creates such menace with just the way he swaggers into a scene. And that's nothing compared to his facial expressions. Spoiler alert: what he does to Polly Bergen with the broken eggs is enough to make you throw up. It's Mitchum's show all the way. As for Peck, the lawyer he plays in this one was overshadowed by his career making lawyer Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" also from 1962 but he is very believable and gets great support from not only Bergen and Lori Martin, but Martin Balsam and Telly Savalas(with hair!) too. The director, J.Lee Thompson, said he wanted to make "Cape Fear" as a homage to Alfred Hitchcock and it certainly lives up to that. Once Bernard Herrman's music starts anyone viewing this picture will not be disappointed. This blu ray presentation of "Cape Fear" is stunning to look at and was probably taken from the original negative(Bitrate: 29.21). It's pristine picture is a wonder to behold and if you've owned either the VHS or regular DVD of the film you will not be disappointed if you upgrade to blu ray. Blacks, whites, grays are very sharp and there are no defects(dirt,hair,specks,lines,torn frames,etc.) in the blu ray transfer. "Cape Fear"(aspec ratio: 1.85.1) is 105 minutes and contains only the following subtitles: English SDH and Spanish. Audio features are: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono and French DTS Mono only. Special features include "The Making of Cape Fear" and the Theatrical Trailer. If you want to see suspense at it's best then I highly recommend Universal's stunning new blu ray of "Cape Fear". Just don't watch it alone at night.

This being made in the 60s, the word "rape" was not allowed. And yet, as the movie progresses, we the viewers clearly understand the intentions of Max Cady. Cady's motto is that he always makes his crime look consensual or count on the victims to be too embarrassed to testify due to the required personal and graphic evidence. This is really a brilliant movie where we are let into the mind of a criminal but we aren't given privy to why he had the urges, prior to the conviction. We understand the revenge motivation against his ex-wife and the person who testified against him, but still unclear on what molded him to do these acts in the first place. The most that is shown in terms of violence is Cady cracking raw eggs on Sam Bowden's wife and slapping her around. Bowden, being a respected attorney, had greater influence on the jury, leading to his conviction, is what Cady believes and that is the reason for seeking revenge. His revenge seems to be to force Bowden into committing a crime so Sam Bowden can end up in prison, although Cady thought he had suffocated/drowned Bowden. Aside from that part which is inconsistent from Cady's intentions and how he could have missed hitting Bowden at the very end, it is a movie about very touchy subject that is directed with class, and a bunch of awesome suspense. Robert Mitchum is a great actors who can play despicable villains and still be a leading actor.

"CAPE FEAR" (1962) The classic tale of revenge by an ex-con against a prosecuting attorney. Although the actors are first class, and the electrifying score is by the incomparable Herrmann, the story line is weak compared to the 1991 remake. In the latter, the ex-con was betrayed by the lawyer who was supposed to DEFEND him, hence the ex-con has a more intense and cogent reason for seeking revenge. In addition, the crazed and diabolic DeNiro is more cunning, creepier, stronger, and more scary than the sedate Mitchum. Also, in the remake, the ending is far more brutal, final, and satisfying than in the original movie. This 1962 film is worth viewing, but it's one of those rare cases where the remake is the better and more dynamic production. TRIVIA: Fans of Mitchum, Peck & Balsam won't be disappointed with the 1991 movie. Director Scorsese wisely included those fine old actors in the remake. (If this review was helpful in any way, please click on the "Helpful" key below. Thanks).

I first watched this film, when I was a young child. Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! Very scary. Mr. Max Cady, is a bone chilling character. He is sooo handsome and so loathsome. He is deeply misogynistic, with a smooth Southern charm, that is almost sincere. He seems noble, debonaire and he is a snappy dresser. But, underneath his cool exterior, he is menacing and cruel. Women fall for him, easily due to his tall, ruggedly handsome physique and thick, lustrous hair. Oh that Hair! But, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Years later, I can see why Hollywood turned Mr. Mitchum into a movie star. He has a level of charm, that is almost close to Clark Gable's, old style charm and panash. While Mr. Mitchum does not have the more slender frame of Clark, MItchum has that big grin, and that BIG, deep voice. Then, there is that smooth dark hair. Max Cady, had me believing in some scenes, that he was really a nice fellow. I would have had cocktails with him, until he took his vengeance on the young, drifter girl. Then, my adoration of Mr. Max Cady, was all over and done with. He's a handsome man with a short fuse. Gregory Peck, is of course the tall, slender, dark haired, hero of the film. Great film. Very potent and pertinent for today.

Superbe film et grands acteurs et actrices. Sans doute meilleur que le remake de Scorsese.

La novela "The Executioners" de John McDonald fue adquirida por Gregory Peck para ser llevada a la gran pantalla con él como productor y protagonista. La película cuenta cómo la vida de un abogado y su familia entran en una espiral de pesadilla cuando un ex-convicto, Max Cady, que ha pasado 8 años en la cárcel por violación lo culpa por su condena y comienza a acosarle por venganza. El papel del "bueno" se lo reservó el propio Gregory Peck ... pero ¿y el papel del malo? Cuando el equipo de producción comenzó a barajar la posibilidad de que Robert Mitchum interpretase al vicioso Max Cady, cuentan que Peck supo entonces que Mitchum se "comería" literalemente la pantalla en todas sus escenas y de que le iba a robar la película. En lugar de tomar la decisión como actor, prefirió mantener el punto de vista del productor y el resto es historia. Además, contrató como director a Jack Lee Thompson (con quien acababa de rodar la exitosa "Los Cañones de Navarone") y reclutó a colaboradores frecuentes del mismísimo Alfred Hitchcock: Bernard Herrmann en la banda sonora y George Tomasini en el montaje. Al final, tal y como se había anticipado, Mitchum se comió literalmente la película con una interpretación al mismo nivel de la que hizo en "La Noche del Cazador". El director modula perfectamente el paulatino incremento de la tensión hasta el final de la película, sin necesidad de caer en el efectismo del remake que hizo Scorsese en 1991. Y aunque le robaron la película, Gregory Peck se resarció aquel año de 1962 con su Óscar por la entrañable interpretación de otro abogado en "Matar un Ruiseñor". La imagen de esta edición en blu-ray es fantástica y, a pesar de recurrir en cierta medida a la reducción de ruido a que nos tiene acostumbrados Universal, hace justicia a la estupenda fotografía en blanco y negro de Sam Leavitt (Óscar por su trabajo en "Éxodo" y "Anatomía de un Asesinato"). El sonido es bueno, teniendo en cuenta las limitaciones inherentes a una película de 1962. La música de Herrmann luce mejor que en ninguna otra edición de esta película. A pesar de ser la edición del Reino Unido, el audio trae doblaje al castellano (de España). No obstante, aconsejo ver esta película en su versión original, además de por el montaje de música y efectos de sonido, por lo ENORME de la interpretación de Mitchum en su idioma original.

A gripping movie of the 1960s, produced in Black and White Widescreen, with sterling performances by Robert Mitchum, who played the role of a dark character and Gregory Peck who played the role of a victim and a lawyer whose family was being terrorized. Chilling suspense till the last scene. I feel that this version is far superior to the later color version in both quality and suspense. This is a typical film-noir movie. Great way to spend an evening.

ich hab mir natürlich auch das Remake dieses Klassikers zu Gemüte geführt und muss sagen....es geht nichts über das Original. Robert de Niro, der im Remake von 1991 die Rolle des Psychopathischen Rächers Max Cady verkörpert, der nach mehreren Jahren im Kittchen sich nun auf macht um Rache an dem Anwalt zu nehmen, der damals als Zeuge gegen ihn aussagte, ist mir persönlich etwas zu übertrieben. Von Oben bis unten Tätowirt, mit markigen Sprüchen a la "Ich bin so groß wie Gott, Gott ist so klein wie ich", hmmm...na ja Dem Knaben wünscht man schon beim ersten Erscheinen den Tod. Da lob ich mir doch das Original, gedreht im klassischen s/w. Bob Mitchum hat es in keiner Minute des Films nötig, dem Zuschauer seine Bösartigkeit zu beweisen. Wie schon in "Night of the Hunter" nimmt man ihm die Rolle des Psychopathen vollends ab. Wer es gern brutal und blutig mag, ist mit dem Remake allerdings besser bedient.

Great quality of sound, picture,so you can enjoy this amazing movie.