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CAPE FEAR (1962)

When the film opens we see Robert Mitchum walking the streets of Savannah and then up a set of courthouse steps. He passes by a woman carrying a heavy load of books, but when she drops one, he keeps walking. We know right off the bat he is no gentleman. We learn later that's just the tip of the iceberg in this renowned classic.

CAPE FEAR tells the story of ex-convict Max Cady (Mitchum), newly released from prison, seeking and stalking lawyer Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) whom he believes is responsible for his serving eight years in prison. Cady torments and taunts Bowden's family, which includes his wife (Polly Bergen) and teenage daughter. Bowden is forced to fight back, breaking the law which he normally abides by and executes every day of his life. But his desperation for the protection of his family becomes his main priority and there are no boundaries for that protection.

Gregory Peck first gained interest in CAPE FEAR through the book formerly titled The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. Peck brought his THE GUNS OF NAVARONE director J. Lee Thompson to the project and the two acquired a talented cast with Mitchum as Peck's evil counterpart, Bergen, Telly Savalas (pre-KOJAK and with hair) and Martin Balsam. It was Peck's idea to come up with the new title for the film geographically from a real river in Savannah where the film is set. Cape Fear River was the inspiration for the film's title.

Stylistically chosen, by director Thompson, to be shot in black and white, CAPE FEAR is a thriller not far removed from that of Hitchcock's archetype. In fact, in the making of documentary on this DVD, Thompson admits to thinking of Hitchcock when filming several particularly spooky scenes. Hitchcock's influence is apparent throughout the film but without Thompson sacrificing his own style in the process he manages to encompass Hitchcock's greatest techniques of suspense and horror. Thompson even used Hitchcock's composer Bernard Herrmann, whose deep dark pitches in his score almost become a co-star in the film. The music adds great excitement to the film; as John Williams' score did for JAWS, Thompson's "bon, bon, bon, bon... bon, bon, bon, bon" does for CAPE FEAR.

The film worked as a thriller back then, and it does today as well, but long lapses of time spent watching and waiting may require moviegoers used to quick-paced jump-out-of the-closest horror films to call upon great patience and appreciation for the artistic value of the film, which comes more slowly and carefully in this case.

Ironically, when the film came out in 1962 the censors, feeling it was much too harsh for that day and age, had a field day with it, apparently even suggesting it receive the equivalent of today's NC-17 rating. Thompson was forced to nip and tuck his film, resulting in unfair censorship in his view.

In the making-of documentary, Thompson explains his battles as well as his rewarding experiences working on set with legends Peck and Mitchum. Peck calls Thompson one of his four favorite directors to work with and says the effort was a great success. Along with interviews with Thompson and Peck, special features include production stills, the theatrical trailer and DVD-ROM features.