I saw both versions shortly after another, and I´m a bit undecisive; I saw Scorsese´s version first, and although I enjoyed it, thought it to be one of his weaker movies (compared to Raging Bull, Goodfellas or Taxi Driver); I heard so much about the original being more creepy , that I believed I would be more impressed by the 1962 version - but I wasn´t. I also found it a good movie, but in the end liked the new version better.
Here is what I liked and not liked about the two versions:
MAX CADY - I found DeNiro in this part much, much more effective. Robert Mitchum was convincing, but I found him to be merely an embittered guy seeking revenge, whereas DeNiro was a chilling, downright sadistic psychopath. Not only because he got into so great shape for the part - I liked Scorsese´s ideas in making him more believeable - his obsession with Nietzsche, religious fanatism and general wish to become an "Übermensch." I know that in 1962 you were not allowed to show rape and violence as graphically (and that the original version already shocked audience, but I thought that DeNiros mistreatment of the woman just underlined the general disturbing nature of his character (in comparison to Mitchum´s slap in the face, which was not really shown).
In contrast, I liked how the original version got straight to the point: While watching Scorsese´s version, I found myself slightly bored by the recurring marital conflicts between Sam Bowden and his wife. I know they were perhaps necessary to make the characters more believable, and I found the ruin of the family through Cady more convincing in the new version, but still, the 1962-version achieved more or less the same thing in less time.
I also found liked Scorsese´s idea, that Bowden was not just a witness, but the lawyer who put Cady in jail: It made the whole story more believable, and in the end gave reason for the climactic intellectual match between the two, as Cady studied law in prison.
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17 years ago
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MariaLoathesDTWig
16 years ago
The 1991's CAPE FEAR hands down.The original is very good but the "remake" is 10000000000000...better.
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yojimbo2006
16 years ago
Original is better is every respect.
Whenever Scorcese diverts from his usual gangster/street-life flicks, the quality takes a serious downturn.
DeNiro's performance was too extreme and Nolte just isn't very watchable.
Like someone else said, the original drags a bit, whereas the original flies by.
And to the person who said the remake was '100000000000 (times) better', for god's sake grow up.
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dbg1224
16 years ago
The Last Temptation of Christ, The Age of Innocence, Kundun, and so much more. Scorsese excels at other types of films.
My three favorite films (order changes): Vertigo, Taxi Driver, and 2001: A Space Odyssey
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JurorNr13
15 years ago
how about commenting on the original post. who cares what your three favorite films are, stick to the subject.
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dbg1224
15 years ago
Haha its my signature. I chose it as my signature because I think you can tell a lot about somebody from what their favorite films/ books/ musicians are.
My three favorite films (order changes): Vertigo, Taxi Driver, and 2001: A Space Odyssey
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