Cape Fear (1991)

Overview
User Rating:
7.2/10 38,108 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Martin Scorsese
Writers (WGA):
John D. MacDonald (novel)
James R. Webb (earlier screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Cape Fear on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 November 1991 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
There is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light. Except fear. more
Plot:
A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Rape | Revenge | Cigar Smoking | Violence | River
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations more
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User Comments:
Seeking Retribution more
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, and for language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
128 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Certification:
Finland:K-15 (video rating) (2001) | Finland:K-16 (1992) (cut) (video rating) | Finland:K-18 (1992) (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:R | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | India:A | 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 more
Company:
Amblin Entertainment more
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
De Niro did a lot of working out several months before the movie and during the shoot to make him the muscular Max Cady, reportedly taking his body fat down to only 3%. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The sweat on the private investigator's face when he talks to Cady. more
Quotes:
Max Cady: [hanging upside down, on the phone with Danielle] ... well, you can trust in me 'cause I'm the "Do-Right Man". more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "South Park: Pre-School (#8.10)" (2004) more
FAQ
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User Comments
(Comment on this title)
18 out of 27 people found the following comment useful:-
Seeking Retribution, 29 April 2003
Author: beagle-1 from Sparta, IL

Robert De Niro plays Max Cady, an illiterate criminal who has been imprisoned for fourteen years on rape and battery charges. Nick Nolte plays Sam Bowden, Cady's lawyer who intentionally buried a valuable document, which may have allowed Cady's prison sentence to be significantly shorter. Cady learns to read while in prison. He starts with 'See Spot Run,' then proceeds to study law books. Cady's rage and desire for revenge grows with each additional day that he is in prison. Although Cady's original prison sentence was only eight years, it is increased to fourteen years due to battery of another inmate. He memorizes the Bible and tattoos his body with scripture referring to vengeance. When Cady is finally released from prison, he immediately seeks out Bowden and his family. Cady has become a scripture slinging psychopath hell bent on revenge. The director Martin Scorsese is attempting to prove that everyone has skeletons in their closet. Bowden might appear to be a terrific lawyer and loving family man on the surface, but underneath the perfect image lies a cheating husband and corrupt lawyer. Scorsese also shows how powerful the emotion of revenge can be and how it can distort ones version of what is right and wrong. Scorsese demonstrates this by showing Cady's knowledge of scripture and his acceptance of the terror that he is inflicting on the Bowden family. Scorsese's use of cameo appearances by Robert Mithcum and Gregory Peck was brilliant. The fact that they played such opposite roles in the original film was an interesting twist. I enjoyed the original 1962 version more than this remake, but I feel that the blood being in color definitely added to the terror that this film inflicts.