Sam Bowden witnesses a rape committed by Max Cady and testifies against him. When released after 8 years in prison, Cady begins stalking Bowden and his family but is always clever enough not to violate the law.
Acting
Mitchum's Cady: charm, threat, and biblical fury in one drawl.
Cinematography
Shadow-drenched Cape Fear river—beauty that wants to drown you.
Writing
Cady's legal untouchability makes every scene suffocating.
Director
J. Lee Thompson
Gregory Peck
Sam Bowden
Robert Mitchum
Max Cady
Polly Bergen
Peggy Bowden
Martin Balsam
Police Chief Mark Dutton
Lori Martin
Nancy Bowden
Jack Kruschen
Attorney Dave Grafton
Telly Savalas
Private Detective Charles Sievers
Barrie Chase
Diane Taylor
Paul Comi
Garner
John McKee
Officer Marconi
Ward Ramsey
Officer Brown
Edward Platt
Judge
Will Wright
Dr. Pearsall
Joan Staley
Waitress
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mitchum was so convincingly terrifying that Peck, his real-life friend, genuinely feared him on set.
This film helped kill the Production Code—its sexual menace was too raw for 1962 censors, who demanded cuts that still weren't enough.
No ratings yet
Reactions from the web
RIP Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003), aged 87 RIP Robert Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997), aged 79 RIP Polly Bergen (July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014), aged 84 You will always be remembered as legends.
@LPJack02 84
Ya gotta admit, Mitchum DELIVERED the goods.
@louishamilton1710 176
A shame Mitchum never won an Oscar, and this would have been a movie he would have deserved one for!
@1Tomrider 34
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
