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Cape Fear
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Cape Fear (1962) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   9,296 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John D. MacDonald (novel)
James R. Webb (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Cape Fear on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1962 (Norway) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The Original Masterpiece Of Revenge, Confrontation And Murder! more
Plot:
A lawyer's family is stalked by a man he once helped put in jail. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
'Cape Fear' Director Thompson Dies
 (From WENN. 4 September 2002)

User Comments:
Stick With This One: The Original more (113 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Executioners (USA) (working title)
2 gigantes sygrouontai (Greece) [el]
Círculo do Medo (Brazil) [pt]
Cabo de miedo (Venezuela) [es]
Cabo do Medo (Brazil) [pt]
Ein Köder für die Bestie (West Germany) [de]
El cabo del terror (Spain) [es]
Farlig främling (Sweden) [sv]
Frygtens terror (Denmark) [da]
Il promontorio della paura (Italy) [it]
Korkusuzlar (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Le cap de la terreur (France) (literal title) [fr]
Les nerfs à vif (France) [fr]
Rt straha (Serbia) [sr]
Tuomitun kosto (Finland) [fi]
more
Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Finland:(Banned) (1962) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1969) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (1992) (uncut) | 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:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to Robert Mitchum, during the filming of the final fight scene between he and Gregory Peck, Peck once accidentally punched him for real. Mitchum, knowing that Peck didn't mean to and ever the professional, refused to break character and continued filming the scene. However, upon entering his trailer, Mitchum said he "literally collapsed" due to the impact of the punch and said that he felt it for days after wards. According to Mitchum: "I don't feel sorry for anyone dumb enough who picks a fight with him (Peck)." more
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. more
Quotes:
[last lines]
Max Cady: [Bowden has shot Cady and is holding the gun on him] Go ahead. I just don't give a damn.
Sam Bowden: No. No! That would be letting you off too easy, too fast. Your words - do you remember? Well I do. No, we're gonna take good care of you. We're gonna nurse you back to health. And you're strong, Cady. You're gonna live a long life... in a cage! That's where you belong and that's where you're going. And this time for life! Bang your head against the walls. Count the years - the months - the hours... until the day you rot!
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FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
36 out of 50 people found the following comment useful.
Stick With This One: The Original, 25 April 2006
8/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Boy, this shows that you can still make a scary movie without a lot of blood, profanity and whatever. Hollywood didn't learn that, however, featuring all of it less than a decade after this was made. The Martin Scorcese re-make of this movie is exactly what I'm talking about.

This original Cape Fear was legitimately scary, thanks to the performance of Robert Mitchum, who doesn't need to resort to the f-word to be a tough, sick and really an evil character as he stalks Gregory Peck and his wife (Polly Bergen) and daughter (Lori Martin).

Bergan and Martin are two women I don't see too much in films which is too bad. They did a lot more TV work than movies. Another thing you don't see much anymore - a nice, sympathetic policeman - was also portrayed in here nicely by Martin Balsam.

The ending has some holes in it, to be sure, but overall it offers a good 106- minute suspense story.

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