I was just 13 years old when I saw Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear in 1962. Yes, I was freaked out!
In 1991, I was much more under control when I watched Robert De Niro in Cape Fear. Still scary!
Cape Fear is based on John D. MacDonald’s The Executioners (1957) thriller where a convicted rapist, Max Cady, seeks revenge on the lawyer, Sam Bowden, who put him in prison.
After his release, Cady systematically terrorizes Bowden’s family. Cady’s actions escalate from psychological torments to physical violence. Cody cannot be reasoned with. And as Cady’s intimidation becomes more threatening, it forces Sam Bowden, a law-abiding lawyer, to deal with the psychopath outside the bounds of the law to protect his family.
Max Cody is a menacing role where Mitchum and De Niro got show their ominous sides. Javier Bardem brings his own fearsome presence to terrorize the Bowden family. Patrick Wilson plays a beleaguered Sam Bowden and Amy Adams plays Bowden’s unnerved wife. Are you a fan of Cape Fear? GRADE: B
To my mind, Mitchum was THE Max Cady — his second greatest role after NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. De Niro, while very good, was weak tea in comparison. I’ll be interested to see how Javier Bardem does when I get a chance.
Jerry, I’m with you on Mitchum. I had nightmares after I saw his CAPE FEAR!
I really liked the Robert Mitchum version—where so much menace was implied rather than being overt. I thought the Robert DeNiro version was horribly violent and over-the-top. Not sure I’m interested in taking the story out for a third spin.
Deb, I thought the De Niro CAPE FEAR focused on violence. The Mitchum version was more subtle.
I agree with Jerry and Deb. Mitchum was the man.
Have no interest in a third version.
Jeff, everyone agrees Mitchum was The Man in CAPE FEAR!
Another of these “why bother” ideas! You’d think Javier Bardem would be tired of playing psychopaths.
Fred, Javier has a certain weakness when it comes to psycho roles…
The guys are right! Here is a movie that doesn’t need a remake!
Bob, Hollywood is prone to remaking successful films.
Mostly inferior remakes! Casablanca with David Soul anyone? Then we need the black version, the gay version, the female version, and the talking chimps version!
Bob, don’t forget about the animated version!
I remember being freaked out by Mitchum. Didn’t see any others.
Maggie, I had nightmares of Mitchum for years after seeing his CAPE FEAR!
I have seen none of them and don’t care to. Just too violent for me.
Patti, the John D. MacDonald book, THE EXECUTIONERS, is a classic of psychological suspense.
Late to this party, and glad you noted that in response to Patti —i go further…I think the A/V adaptations missed the point…that the married couple found themselves, unwillingly, to need to be the Executioners. This was always more compelling to me than the hapless victims of the films, who luck into being the “winners”…the point of the novel being that even when necessary, there’s nothing to celebrate in being the More Effective Evil…except that in their case, they were given no choice in the matter. The De Niro film version seemed particularly interested in Having Fun with hebrephilia, Mitchum’s villain, in not being at all cartoonish, was more effective.
Todd, you’re agreeing with the Majority when you write that Mitchum’s villain was more effective. He was!
But not with the majority when I say the novel is vastly better than either adaptation I’ve seen (haven’t and probably won’t see the Apple anytime soon), and that the novel is a far more profound work of art.
Todd, I agree with you: THE EXECUTIONERS is one of JDM’s best novels!