Cape Fear (1991)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

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

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:

Color Remake Of B&W Film | Yuppie | Harassment | Middle Class | Maniac

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

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-16 (1992) (cut) (video rating) | Brazil:16 | Iceland:16 | Canada:R | Finland:K-18 (1992) (uncut) | Finland:K-15 (video rating) (2001) | 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:

Robert De Niro helped costume designer Rita Ryack chose Cady's clothing.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the bedroom, Leigh Bowden's earring disappears and reappears.

Quotes:

Max Cady: I am like God, and God like me. I am as large as God, He is as small as I. He cannot above me, nor I beneath Him be. Selatius, 17th Century.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Se7en (1995)

Not in his (Scorsese's) best, but definately has it's moments of glory

Martin Scorsese takes his first whack at the horror/thriller genre with a remake of the 1962 classic of the same title. While I can not truthfully say the original was better due to the fact that I never saw the original, I have a feeling that Scorsese has brought his maestro touch to the film that changes it slightly from the original to make it better, because this is quite the suspenser.

Here, a very dangerous and evil man named Max Cady (played in one of the best villain roles of the 90's by Robert De Niro) gets out of jail after 14 years of imprisonment, and decides to get vengeance on the lawyer (Nick Nolte) and his family (Jessica Lange the mother and a young and supple Juliette Lewis as the daughter). At times the film is surprisingly slow, but the film is never boring, and suspense is always in the air; the climax/ending contains some of Scorsese and De Niro's finest work. Also, De Niro steals the show as the animal Cady by making the person who is supposed to be the hero into a flawed character, thereby turning the film almost into a Film-noir, which is quite a feat for Scorsese and company. Not perfect, but it shouldn't be. Those are Scorsese's parents briefly buying fruit. A-