Cape Fear (1962 film)

Cape Fear
Film poster
Directed by	J. Lee Thompson
Screenplay by	James R. Webb
Based on	The Executioners 1957 novel by John D. MacDonald
Produced by	Sy Bartlett
Starring	Gregory Peck Robert Mitchum Polly Bergen Lori Martin Martin Balsam Jack Kruschen Telly Savalas Barrie Chase
Cinematography	Sam Leavitt
Edited by	George Tomasini
Music by	Bernard Herrmann
Production companies	Melville Productions Talbot Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	June 15, 1962 (1962-06-15)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.8 million (US/Canada)[1]

Cape Fear is a 1962 American psychological thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson, from a screenplay by James R. Webb, adapting the 1957 novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. It stars Gregory Peck as Sam Bowden, an attorney and family man who is stalked by a violent psychopath and ex-con named Max Cady (played by Robert Mitchum), who is bent on revenge for Bowden's role in his conviction eight years prior. The film co-stars Polly Bergen and features Lori Martin, Martin Balsam, Jack Kruschen, Telly Savalas, and Barrie Chase in supporting roles.

Produced by Peck's company Melville Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film includes several key cast and crew who had previously worked with director Alfred Hitchcock, including editor George Tomasini and composer Bernard Herrmann. J. Lee Thompson's direction was also strongly influenced by Hitchcock.

The film was released on June 15, 1962. It received positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Peck and Mitchum's performances. A remake of the same name was released in 1991, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Nick Nolte and Robert De Niro in the lead roles. Peck, Mitchum, and Balsam all appeared as different characters in the remake.^[2]