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This review refers to the “Cape Fear”(1962) Widescreen DVD edition by Universal…..
“Cape Fear” from 1962 is a terrific example of great film noir. Filmed in black and white, director J.Lee Thompson uses shadows and light, and the art of suggestion(the censors were pretty tough back in the 60’s), to bring us this bone-chilling and suspenseful classic that over fourty years later, still, has not lost it’s draw. Not unlike many of Hitchcock’s films, Thompson has the audience on the edge of their seats,our hearts in our throats, and in fear for the hero.
It’s good vs. evil, as Greogory Peck and Robert Mitchum, put their immense talents together for this spine tingler. Max Cady(Mitchum) has just been released from 8 long years in prison. From the moment we meet him, we KNOW this is one bad hombre. He is bent on revenge, and Sam Bowden(Peck) is the man who must pay. Sam’s young daughter and beautiful wife are the targets of Max’s obssession. He is slick and devious and will stop at nothing to get even. Sam does everything in his power legally to try and stop him, but must take matters into his own hands to protect his family.
Mitchum is simply powerful in his performance of this menacing threat, and Peck as always is perfect in his portrayal of the family man whose life has just turned into one big nightmare!
The film is also helped by the wonderful talents of Telly Savalas and Martin Balsam. Polly Bergen and Lori Martin are magnificent as the terrified wife and daughter.The talent doesn’t end there though, the haunting music was scored by Bernard Hermann(who worked with Hitch on several films), and Sam Leavitt does a fabulous job with the black and white cinematography.
The transfer to DVD is crisp and sharp. It is presented in anamorphic widescreen(1.85:1)and barely shows it’s age. The sound is in Dolby Dig 2.0 Mono. The dialouge as well as the music and background noises are all clear and distguishable.
There is a terrific featurette on the making of the film,production photos, a trailer, and DVD ROM. It may only be viewed in English, but has captions in English and subtitles in Spanish and French for those that may need them.
A thriller that stands the test of time. One that esteemed Director Martin Scorsese chose to pay homage to with a wonderful remake.
Get the popcorn ready and enjoy……Laurie
Prior to his Oscar-winning role as lawyer Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Gregory Peck portrayed another attorney in 1962’s “Cape Fear”, a psychological thriller also starring Robert Mitchum in one of his most despicable roles.
No two actors were better suited than these two. Their characters are a definite study in contrast. Peck’s Sam Bowden is a civilized intellectual forced to resort to some underhanded means to protect his family and himself from the treacherous taunts of Mitchum’s crude, rude antagonist. Tension builds as the two men make a final confrontation at the location of the film’s title.
Polly Bergen and Lorie Martin as Peck’s respective wife and daughter are quite good a show a strength of character rare for women in the early 60’s. They are not just “screaming Mimi’s”.
Martin Balsam, Jack Krushen and a pre-Kojak Telly Savalas round out a superlative cast; Barrie Chase is also quite memorable as a woman that runs afoul of the Mitchum’s sadistic Max Cady.
Southern locations and crisp cinematography provide a picturesque yet menacing background and look.
To top off the film off is another remarkable score from Bernard Herrmann. Music by the late composer elevates this already superior thriller to a higher level.
