I finally got around to watching the original Cape Fear and was very impressed. Now I understand what everyone is on about. Robert Mitcham is Max Cady. What an incredible performance. I found him profoundly more scary than De Niro, and I loved De Niro's performance. Beautifully shot in black and white which adds to suspense with an iconic music score, which Scorcese found so effective he used it in the remake.

I watched the making of documentary with the original director talking about the trouble they had with censors prior to and after making the film. He felt very held back in what he could do. I think this was actually an advantage as it made the real menace of Cady more underlying and suggested rather than in your face like the modern version. I'm surprised they were able to get away with the line "she's almost as juicy as your wife" when Cady's leering at Bowden's daughter on the boat. That would have been quite shocking in the day and justifies Bowden's immediate response.

The one aspect I believe the remake does better with is the family dynamic. The strain between husband and wife in comparison to the happy, contented family in the original adds to the story for me, together with Cady's seduction of the daughter which is really well done and sends shivers down your spine.

Overall the original is an absolute classic and a very worthy addition to my DVD collection.

The only thing I remember about the remake is Juliette Lewis acting like such a dirty little ho, sucking De Niro thumb

yeah juliette wont be remembered in her career for being a sympathetic chick. she either acts spoiled, slutty or retarded in her films.

ever watched the original, unfortunately, but im sure mitchum stole the show, as usual.

The strain between husband and wife in comparison to the happy, contented family in the original adds to the story for me

well it was made back then when we all believed there were happy families! not sure if i want this illusion back or not, but im certain in real life an ex-con would find it much more difficult to do what cady does to the chicks in the remake!

I rank the 1962 version very slightly higher.