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Director Martin Scorsese's first choice for the role of Bowden was Harrison Ford. He had Robert De Niro call Ford to try convincing him to take the part; after some consideration, he ultimately turned down the offer. Warren Beatty, Jeff Bridges, James Caan, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Dennis Quaid, Christopher Reeve and Robert Redford were also considered.
The thick accent Robert De Niro used to play Max Cady reportedly gave Martin Scorsese the creeps. As a joke, De Niro would call Scorsese's house, leaving voicemails as Cady.
Originally, in the scene where Cady puts handcuffs on Lori, she was supposed to start freaking out. Illeana Douglas was the one who came up with the idea of having her character laughing and trying to play along instead.
The scene in the high school auditorium was shot in one take with two cameras.
The auditorium scene was originally scripted as a chase scene, but Martin Scorsese wanted it to be a seduction.