Inspired by the 1957 novel titled The Executioners, by author John D. MacDonald, the film, Cape Fear came out in 1962 and is a movie that managed to cause quite the ruckus even before its release. The story is a slightly predictable but classic tale of revenge and murder with a few controversial aspects.
Starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Lori Martin, Martin Balsam, Jack Kruschen, Telly Savalas, and finally, Barrie Chase, the movie, Cape Fear follows the revenge story of an ex-convict who, after being released from jail, decided to go on a vengeful murdering spree to take revenge from the man who testified against him.
Mitchum, as Max Cady, the bloodthirsty ex-convict, is a dangerous threat against the Peck’s character, Sam Bowden, and his poor family. The movie is a treat to watch, though it may be gory and disturbing to those who do not enjoy the constant looming eerie vibes in films.
For the most part, the film managed to garner positive critiques, with many loving the way the plot was written. Mitchum and Peck were great in the film and played their roles beautifully. It is a movie that leaves you feeling terrified and disgusted by the time the end rolls up.
The craze for the movie does not stop here, as it was not just successful at the time of its release but was also remade in 1991, and continues to be name-dropped in different series even now, including The Simpsons, which dedicated a whole episode to the movie.
Not only this but the movie is always included in the “one of the scariest movies of all time” lists whenever one is made, which is a pretty big feat considering the movie was released almost sixty-one years ago.
At the time of its release, the movie had faced hurdles before its release because of a certain implication that the censor board felt was too much.
Certain aspects of the film implied a threat of sexual assault on a child, which did not sit well with the board, and the movie had to be heavily edited because of it.
Despite the editing, the movie got an X rating, which meant that it was suitable only for audiences over the age of eighteen. Knowing this fact strangely adds to the tension that the movie holds and makes it even more uncomfortable to watch.
Cape Fear 1962 Filming Locations
Georgia, USA
Deliberately made in black and white to keep the tensions high and the atmosphere going, the movie, Cape Fear, was shot almost entirely in Savannah, Georgia.
However, it was revealed that the leading actor, Mitchum, was not comfortable with shooting in Savannah due to his own bad childhood experiences in the place.
A few locations that fans were able to spot in the film that are located in Savannah include Johnson Square, which was seen a few times during the exterior scenes of the film; Savannah City Hall, which was used for the court scene; the docks of Isle of Hope Marina, The Armstrong Kessler Mansion which featured as Nancy’s school in the film, and lastly, the Forsyth Park.
Forsyth Park was used in the film quite a few times, with the most iconic use of it being the Max Cady walk scene. Apart from this, the park has been used in many films, including The Longest Yard.
Other places that feature in the film that are also located in Savannah are Factor’s Walk, Wright Square, and Tybee Island.
Remember when we mentioned that Mitchum had bad blood with Savannah and did not want to go to the place at all? Well, Director J. Lee Thompson loved the fact that Mitchum had trauma related to the place.
He revealed that Mitchum hated the place so much that he looked ready to explode, and that anger just added to his character’s barbaric nature.
Though much of the film’s shooting was done in the location, some parts were also shot in Stockton, California, and others were filmed in Universal Studios located in Universal City, California.
A few indoor scenes for the film were at the studio soundstage. Because the actor did not feel all that great about going back to the place that almost got him killed, a few outdoor scenes also had to be filmed in Ladd’s Marina in Stockton, California, including the final scene of the conflict on the boat.
