Cape Fear (1962)
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A family man's life is threatened by a vengeful ex-con who stalks them after a legal conviction.
The story
In Southeast Georgia, Max Cady is released from prison after serving an eight-year sentence for rape. He immediately targets Sam Bowden, the attorney who played a key role in his conviction. Cady begins a campaign of stalking and intimidation against Bowden and his family, including his wife, Peggy, and their young daughter, Nancy. As the local police are unable to intervene without proof of a crime, Bowden must find ways to protect his loved ones from the escalating threats of a man determined to exact revenge for his time behind bars.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Cady's harassment escalates, Bowden hires a private investigator to find a woman Cady previously assaulted, but she refuses to testify. Following a series of escalating threats, including a near-fatal accident involving his daughter, Bowden moves his family to a remote houseboat and cabin in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. He lures Cady to the boat under a ruse, leading to a tense confrontation on the water. During the conflict, Cady manages to assault the wife and daughter. The film culminates in a violent physical struggle on the riverbank where Bowden eventually overpowers and wounds Cady. Rather than killing him, Bowden chooses to let Cady be imprisoned for life, ensuring he remains behind bars while the Bowden family escapes safely.
- First release year
- 1962
- Runtime (minutes)
- 106
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- J. Lee Thompson
- Writers
- James R. Webb · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Gregory Peck · Sam Bowden; Robert Mitchum · Max Cady; Polly Bergen · Peggy; Lori Martin · Nancy; Martin Balsam; Jack Kruschen; Telly Savalas · Charlie Sievers; Barrie Chase
- Genres
- southern gothic; psychological thriller
- Themes
- revenge; justice
- Tone and mood
- stalking; menacing
- Setting
- Southeast Georgia and the Cape Fear region of North Carolina.
- Premise and plot tags
- legal thriller; home invasion; stalking
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Executioners by John D. MacDonald
- Content notes
- sexual assault
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who highlighted the performances of the lead actors.
- Awards and nominations
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains · Max Cady · 2003 · Ranked #28
- Production trivia
- The film's title was chosen by Gregory Peck because he found the original novel title to be a 'turn-off'.; The scene where Mitchum attacks the character played by Polly Bergen was almost completely improvised.; The film was influenced by the work of Alfred Hitchcock in its direction and musical score.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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