Cape Fear (1991)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

John D. MacDonald (novel)
James R. Webb (earlier screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

The Bowden family has moved to New Essex.

Plot:

A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Rape | Cigar Smoking | Houseboat | Violence

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

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
W. Paul Bodie	...	Prisoner
Joel Kolker	...	Corrections Officer
Antoni Corone	...	Corrections Officer
Tamara Jones	...	Ice Cream Cashier
Roger Pretto	...	Racquetball Colleague
Parris Buckner	...	Racquetball Colleague
Margot Moreland	...	Secretary
Will Knickerbocker	...	Detective
Robert L. Gerlach	...	Arresting Officer
Bruce E. Holdstein	...	Arresting Officer
Richard Wasserman	...	Parade Watcher
Paul Nagle Jr.	...	Parade Watcher
Paul Froehler	...	Parade Watcher
Mary Ellen O'Brien	...	Parade Watcher
Jody Wilson	...	Parade Watcher
C.C. Costigan	...	Waitress (as Kate Colburn)
Domenica Cameron-Scorsese	...	Danny's Girlfriend (as Domenica Scorsese)
Gar Stephen	...	Big Man #1
Billy D. Lucas	...	Big Man #2 (as Billy Lucas)
Ken Collins	...	Big Man #3
Linda Perri	...	Ticket Agent
Elizabeth Moyer	...	Ticket Agent
Catherine Scorsese	...	Fruitstand Customer
Charles Scorsese	...	Fruitstand Customer
Jackie Davis	...	Jimmy the Dockmaster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Ritter	...	Actor on Movie Screen (archive footage) (uncredited)
Esther Rolle	...	Woman watching Cady get out from under the car (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

Writing credits (WGA)
John D. MacDonald		(novel "The Executioners")
James R. Webb		(earlier screenplay)
Wesley Strick		(screenplay)

Produced by
Barbara De Fina	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	executive producer
Robert De Niro	....	producer (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Non-Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Thelma Schoonmaker

Casting by
Ellen Lewis

Production Design by
Henry Bumstead

Art Direction by
Jack G. Taylor Jr.

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Costume Design by
Rita Ryack

Makeup Department
Stephan Dupuis	....	special burn makeup (as Stephan L. Dupuis)
Donna Battersby Greene	....	hair stylist (as Donna Greene)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	hair stylist: Mr. Nolte (as Edouard F. Henriques III)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist: Mr. Nolte (as Edouard F. Henriques III)
Ilona Herman	....	hair stylist: Mr. De Niro
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist: Mr. De Niro
Elizabeth Lambert	....	makeup artist
Neal Martz	....	special makeup effects artist
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange (as Dorothy Pearl)
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lange
Jo-Anne Smith-Ojeil	....	assistant special burn makeup

Production Management
Deborah Lee	....	unit production manager
Margery Mailman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Deborah Lupard	....	second second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (as Joseph Reidy)
Nathalie Vadim	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard Adee	....	property master
Wally Adee	....	assistant property master (as Walter Adee)
Michael Calabrese	....	set dresser
Robert Crowley	....	set dresser
Robert Cuevas	....	carpenter
Gary Dunham	....	propman
Stephen P. Durante	....	stand-by set dresser (as Stephen Durante)
Gabriel C. Ell	....	construction coordinator (as Gabriel Ell)
Adrian Gorton	....	assistant art director
Joe Griffith	....	production illustrator (as Joseph F. Griffith Jr.)
David C. Hardie	....	carpenter
James Harris	....	carpenter
Eric Helfritz	....	set dresser
Richard Howarth	....	set dresser
Richard F. Malone Jr.	....	carpenter
Regina McLarney	....	assistant set decorator (as Regina Marie McLarney)
Michael Metzel	....	construction foreman
Al Mouradian	....	greensman (as Albert Mouradian)
Kevin Oates	....	lead set dresser
Theodore Pappas	....	set dresser
J. Randy Peterson	....	set dresser
Genessa Goldsmith Proctor	....	head scenic artist
John R. Salemi	....	stand-by painter
Cary Whittaker	....	greensman (as Cary Whitaker)
Susan Inge Wood	....	scenic foreman
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Michael J. Flynn	....	on-set greensman (uncredited)
William Kellow	....	construction propmaker (uncredited)
Greg Koronowicz	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Arturo Mendez	....	scenic art crew (uncredited)
Jeremy Alan Read	....	greensman (uncredited)
Barbara S. Shelton	....	painter (uncredited)
Ginny Walsh	....	property fabricator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andy Aaron	....	sound effects recordist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
William Docker	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kenton Jakub	....	assistant sound editor
Shari Johanson	....	apprentice sound editor (as Shari Schwartz)
Brian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	dialogue editor
Tod A. Maitland	....	production sound mixer (as Tod Maitland)
Sylvia Menno	....	assistant sound editor
T.J. O'Mara	....	boom operator (as Terence J. O'Mara)
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Gail Showalter	....	adr editor
Philip Stockton	....	supervising dialogue editor
Kevin M. Tromer	....	cable person
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Mel Zelniker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David A. Duvall	....	special effects
J.B. Jones Jr.	....	special effects
Cary Jones	....	special effects
J.B. Jones	....	special effects coordinator
John Patteson	....	special effects (as John F. Patteson)
James L. Roberts	....	special effects foreman (as James L. Roberts II)
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Syd Dutton	....	matte painter: Illusion Arts Inc.
Syd Dutton	....	special optical effects: Illusion Arts Inc.
José Granell	....	art director: The Magic Camera Company
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	matte special rigging: Illusion Arts Inc.
Roger Lofting	....	producer: The Magic Camera Company
Derek Meddings	....	miniature special effects supervisor: The Magic Camera Company
John Morgan	....	first camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photographer: Illusion Arts Inc.
Robert Stromberg	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts Inc.
Catherine Sudolcan	....	production manager: Illusion Arts Inc.
Bill Taylor	....	matte painter: Illusion Arts Inc.
Bill Taylor	....	special optical effects: Illusion Arts Inc.
Jonathan Taylor	....	second camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Suzie F. Wiesmann	....	production manager: The Magic Camera Company (as Susie Ford)
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical photographer: Illusion Arts Inc.
Paul Wilson	....	director of photography: The Magic Camera Company
Angus Bickerton	....	focus puller: model unit (uncredited)
David Carrigan	....	first assistant director: visual effects unit (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	focus puller: model unit (uncredited)
Antony Hunt	....	executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (uncredited)
Andy Stevens	....	camera assistant: model unit, Magic Camera Company (uncredited)

Stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts (as Daniel Barringer)
Doug Coleman	....	stunt double: Mr. De Niro
Leon Delaney	....	stunt coordinator
Donna Evans	....	stunt double: Ms. Lange
Marcia Holley	....	stunt double: Ms. Lewis
Billy Judkins	....	stunts
Don Pulford	....	stunt double: Mr. Nolte (as Don Polford)
Bob Stephens	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Bunting	....	grip (as Keith Bunting Jr.)
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Don Cerrone	....	key grip
Jose Cue	....	electrician (as José Cue)
Gene Engels	....	gaffer
Peter Farber	....	camera loader
Michael Fedack	....	dolly grip (as Michael John Fedack)
Phil Green	....	electrician (as Philip Green)
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
William Hines	....	rigging gaffer
Jamie Klein	....	grip
Edward Knott III	....	grip
Ed Knott Jr.	....	rigging grip (as Edward Knott Jr.)
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera
Greg Patterson	....	set lighting technician
John Piccolo	....	grip
Charles Quinlivan	....	best boy grip
Pete Romano	....	underwater director of photography: second unit, "Barn Shoot"
Gary Schwab	....	grip
John Sheeren	....	second assistant camera
John Sider	....	electrician
John Smith	....	best boy
Steve Spallone	....	electrician (as Steven Spallone)
John Winner	....	additional camera operator
Wayne Baker	....	underwater assistant camera: "barn shoot", second unit (uncredited)
Chuck Bludsworth	....	electrician (uncredited)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant Steadicam (uncredited)
Chris Hayes	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Gary Ryan	....	electrician (uncredited)
Owen Stephens	....	electrician: rigging crew (uncredited)
Bob Wright	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Patricia Wilson	....	principal casting assistant
Ellen Jacoby	....	casting: Florida (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vivian Cocheo	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Vivian J. Cocheo)
Kathleen Gerlach	....	assistant costume designer
Linda Hamilton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kristy Aitken Hernandez	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Carolyn Calvert	....	apprentice editor (as Carolyn J. Horton)
Brent Eldridge	....	digital color correction
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
Joel Hirsch	....	apprentice editor
Nell Kelly	....	assistant editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	assistant editor
Cara Silverman	....	first assistant editor
Joe Violante	....	laboratory coordinator: Technicolor

Music Department
Diana Barry	....	assistant music editor
Elmer Bernstein	....	conductor: Bernard Herrmann's original score
Elmer Bernstein	....	music adaptor: Bernard Herrmann's original score
Elmer Bernstein	....	music arranger: Bernard Herrmann's original score
Emilie A. Bernstein	....	orchestrator
Emile Charlap	....	orchestra contractor
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
Shawn Murphy	....	music scoring mixer
Christopher Palmer	....	music consultant

Transportation Department
Walter 'Red' Bedell	....	driver (as Red Bedell)
Dick Boyles	....	driver
Connie Lee Brown	....	driver (as Connie Brown)
Ben Coney	....	transportation co-captain
Todd Dickison	....	driver
Pete Dilella	....	driver
Bill Girard	....	driver
Olga González	....	driver (as Olga Gonzalez)
Edward Haber	....	driver (as Eddie Haber)
George Hamilton	....	driver
Charlie Joe	....	driver (as Joe Charlie)
Clarence Lark III	....	driver
Joyce M. Lark	....	transportation captain
Eddie Manson	....	driver
Verdell Owen	....	driver (as Verdell Owens)
Richard P. Pecora	....	driver (as Richie Pecora)
Matt Watson	....	driver
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Jeffrey T. Barabe	....	production assistant
Elaine Bass	....	title sequence
Saul Bass	....	title sequence
Eric Berg	....	assistant: Mr. Nolte (as Eric C. Berg)
Andrew Bernstein	....	production assistant
Kristin Bernstein	....	production assistant (as Kristin Cameron)
Marion Billings	....	publicist
Will Brantley	....	craft service (as Will A. Brantley)
Robin Chambers	....	assistant: Mr. De Niro
Sam Chwat	....	speech and dialect coach: N.Y. Speech Improvement Services
Noreen Compton	....	production assistant
Rob Covington	....	production assistant
Mort Fallick	....	title production supervisor
Michael Feder	....	production assistant
Jeff Fisher	....	production assistant
Erin Garcia	....	production assistant
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
Alan Greenberg	....	field researcher
Moby Griffin	....	marine coordinator (as Moby John Griffin)
Katy Harris	....	production assistant
Dan Harvey	....	personal fitness trainer: Mr. De Niro
Michael Jackman	....	post-production accountant
Julia Judge	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese
Doug Kraft	....	paramedic
Diane L. Langone	....	assistant auditor
Shelly Latham	....	additional voice (as Shelley Latham)
Lisa Maniscalco	....	assistant production coordinator
Douglas C. Merrifield	....	technical coordinator: second unit, "Burn Shoot" (as Douglas Merrifield)
Chuck Parello	....	production assistant
Allison Procacci	....	assistant: Ms. De Fina
Celia Randolph	....	production coordinator
Hardy Rawls	....	additional voice
Juan Ros	....	set production assistant
Craig Sechler	....	additional voice
Patrick Selts	....	paramedic
Lucille Smith	....	production auditor (as Lucille Masone Smith)
Christina Stauffer	....	production assistant (as Christina J. Stauffer)
Christopher Swartout	....	production assistant
Kitty Terry	....	assistant location manager
Kai Thorup	....	production assistant
Sherry Thorup	....	location manager
Rebecca Weymouth	....	production assistant
Corey B. Yugler	....	script supervisor
D. Rex Downham	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Judith Fitzsimmons	....	body double: Jessica Lange (uncredited)
Judith Fitzsimmons	....	stand-in: Jessica Lange (uncredited)
R. Emmett Fitzsimmons	....	dialogue assistant (uncredited)
Theresa Marsh	....	second assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Kenny Rivenbark	....	remote head technician (uncredited)
Sherrill Smith	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment (presents)
• Cappa Films (in association with) (presents)
• Tribeca Productions (in association with) (presents)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal An MCA Company)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1992) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Video (1993) (Finland) (VHS)
• CIC Video (1992) (Germany) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• MCA Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1995) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc twinpack with Cape Fear '61)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Germany) (DVD) (Double Pack)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD) (Collector's Edition)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1999) (2000) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Effects House, The
• Illusion Arts (matte paintings and special optical effects)
• Magic Camera Company, The

Other Companies

• Breaktime  catering
• Ellen Jacoby Casting  extras casting
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facilities
• Temptu  tattoos
• Trademark Animal Talent  "Benjamin" owned by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, and for language

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Israel:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (No. 31467) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 (2001) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1993) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (1992) (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:R | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | India:A | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Peru:18 | Canada:18+ (TV rating) | Germany:16 (f) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The scene between Robert De Niro and Juliette Lewis in the school was shot in three takes, but the first one was used in final productions.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cady is kissing Danielle, he leans to the right. When the camera switches, showing the back of Danielle's head, now Cady is leaning to the left. This sequence happens again when the camera switches back to its original angle.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Danielle:My reminiscence. I always thought that for such a lovely river the name is mystifying: "Cape Fear". When the only thing to fear on those enchanted summer nights was that the magic would end and real life would come crashing in.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: Imaginationland: Episode II (#11.11)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Don't Mess with the Voodoo

Not Scorcese's best, but pretty good!

Martin Scorcese's filmography as director is one of the most accomplished in modern film history. While Cape Fear can't even hold a candle next to "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas", it is still a fabulous remake of the 1962 noir classic and it keeps the viewer on the edge right through until the closing credits.

Robert De Niro (in yet another brilliant teaming with Scorcese behind the camera) plays Max Cady, a psychopathic rapist who was sent to jail 14 years earlier for such crimes. He leaves prison with vengeance. Not for his victims or his prosecutor, but his defence councillor, Sam J. Bowden, played by Nick Nolte. It seems Bowden did not defend Cady to the best of his ability. Cady knows this and wants some payback.

Cady's initial return into Bowden's life could not have come at a worse time. Bowden has been forced to move his family to Florida after his infidelities threatened his marriage and career. His wife is distrustful and worst of all, Bowden is on the verge of beginning another affair with a female workmate. Added to that, his daughter is at the difficult age of 15.

Almost by ozmosis, Cady understands these problems in the Bowden household and acts on them. He begins terrorising Bowden and his whole family, taking it from one extreme to the next.

What makes Cape Fear such a good film is the rapidly increasing sense of claustrophobia. Scorcese makes a point of using almost only close up shots towards the end of the film. It is a great touch that makes the viewer that much more scared as the film goes on.

Along with that, Robert De Niro is superb as Cady. Only occasionally does the role slip into parody. Mostly he is expertly evil.

Nick Nolte is good if not great, the same for Jessica Lange as Leigh Bowden. It seems as if they were void of any great lines in this film, which is unfortunate given their immense talent. Julliette Lewis is absolutely brilliant as the young daughter, Danielle. She slips effortlessly between curious sexual awakenings, rebellious teen and straight thinking woman. Add in small roles for Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck (the leads of the 1962 version) and you have a great ensemble cast.

So not the best Scorcese film ever, but some tight editing, great camerawork, a haunting theme and devilishly over-the-top acting help make this a frighteningly fun movie to watch. Strongly recommended.