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Martin Scorcese’s 1991 updating of Cape Fear creeps onto Blu-ray with a refreshingly solid HD picture and sound package, accompanied by the extensive extras prepared for the standard definition DVD in 2001. This may not be Scorcese’s best or most memorable film by a long shot, but it has many interesting features for his fans. It’s the first movie he filmed in 2.35:1, the first movie of his to incorporate major VFX work, and it’s got a memorably wild performance by Robert De Niro as the showboat villain of the story. And just to nod to fans of the original 1962 film, both Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck make cameo appearances.
CAPE FEAR
Studio: Universal
Year: 1991
Length: 2 hrs 8 mins
Genre: Thriller
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
BD Resolution and Codec: 1080p, VC-1 @ 30 mpbs
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (@ an average 4.2 mbps, up to 5.4 mbps), French DTS 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Film Rating: R (Strong Violence and Language)
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Joe Don Baker and Juliette Lewis with cameos by Robert Mitchum, Martin Balsam and Gregory Peck
Screenplay by: Wesley Strick
Based on: Cape Fear (1962 film) by James R. Webb, which is in turn based on The Executioners (novel) by John D. MacDonald
Directed by: Martin Scorcese
Film Rating: 3/5
Martin Scorcese’s 1991 film of Cape Fear is anything but subtle. Intended as an openly commercial picture (an unusual step for Scorcese, but understandable at the time), the movie is a remake of the 1962 thriller starring Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck. Like the original film, the 1991 film deals with the revenge of freed convict Max Cady on lawyer Sam Bowden and his family. The movie is structured as an homage to the work of Alfred Hitchcock, including the use of a Saul Bass’ title sequence and visuals, and an adaptation of the music of Bernard Herrmann. As is the norm for Scorcese, the camera work and the editing flourishes are a dizzying array of style moves – roaring zooms, dutch angles, spinning perspectives. The whole thing is capped off by Robert De Niro’s wild performance as Cady – one that skates just on the edge of going over the top without ever quite tipping over. The movie is thrilling to watch (as evidenced by its good box office performance in 1991) but eventually resorts to standard formula material for the inevitable climax. I can’t say that it’s a great movie, but it’s definitely an interesting one to see, particularly for fans of Robert De Niro’s collaborations with Martin Scorcese.
Cape Fear has been released on Blu-ray this week. The Blu-ray carries over pretty much all of the extras from the 2001 “Collector’s Edition” DVD, and adds very nice high definition picture and sound. While there’s nothing new in the extras, the Blu-ray is still worth collecting for the new transfer – and if you’ve never seen the movie on disc before, the whole package is quite attractive.
VIDEO QUALITY 4/5
Cape Fear is presented in a 1080p VC-1 2.35:1 transfer that does extremely well with the various colors, flesh tones and environments. This is not a transfer with DNR problems by any means, nor does it show the kind of digital noise issues that affected earlier catalogue transfers. Instead, there’s a healthy amount of grain on display, and the movie is a pleasure to watch. As intended by Scorcese, the colors really pop off the screen at times, including some loud red shirts worn by Max Cady, and an unbelievable fireworks display seen in a pair of VFX shots somewhat early on.
AUDIO QUALITY 4 ½/5
Cape Fear is presented in an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix in English, as well as a standard DTS mix in French. This is an active mix, particularly for a catalogue title. Given that this is a thriller, the music and the atmospheric effects really work through the surrounds. Elmer Bernstein’s adaptation of the Bernard Herrmann score literally blasts through the speakers at times. There are times when the southern accents of the characters can be a bit harder to understand but that isn’t a problem with the mix – it’s more of the accents themselves, or perhaps of my unfamiliarity with them.
SPECIAL FEATURES 3/5
The Blu-ray presentation of Cape Fear comes with just about everything included on the 1991 “Collector’s Edition” DVD, including a solid Laurent Bouzereau documentary on the film’s production, some deleted scenes, the trailer and a few other odds and ends. All of this material is presented in standard definition. The Blu-ray also includes the standard pocket BLU functionality and the “My Scenes” bookmarking option.
Deleted Scenes – (9:15, 480p, Non-Anamorphic) A few deleted moments are included here from the opening reels of the movie, offering more material with the Bowden family. The scenes are not chaptered, so the only way to view them is to watch the whole thing and fast forward or rewind when necessary.
The Making of Cape Fear (1:20:01, 480p, Full Frame) – Laurent Bouzerau’s thorough documentary on the making of the movie is included here, and it’s a pleasure to see. Bouzereau carries the viewer through the development process as first Steven Spielberg and then Scorcese bring their approaches to bear. (It’s interesting to see the film as a Spielberg project that turned into a Scorcese picture – the last time I saw something like this was when Spike Lee made Inside Man a very different picture than Ron Howard would have done.) The focus shifts to casting, where it’s made clear that De Niro was conducting his own interviews with cast before Scorcese did. (Juliette Lewis describes her own situation, where she was the first one seen and effectively got the job then but had to wait while many other actresses were auditioned, just to be sure.) Bouzereau has interviews with the main cast, including De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Lewis and Gregory Peck, along with two discussions with Scorcese – one from 1991 and the other from 1999. Scorcese discusses the film being his first in anamorphic widescreen and indicates that his reluctance to shoot in that format was based on the issue of most televisions through the 1990s not being wide enough to properly show it. The cast, Scorcese and Wesley Strick discuss the updating of the key plot points, with particular attention to the idea that the Bowden family seen here is not a happy one at all. There’s an irony to the approach – the original film had Max Cady breaking apart a working family unit, and the remake has Cady using the broken family’s differences but seeing them come together to fight him. The use of VFX is discussed here in good detail. The best material for me comes from Elmer Bernstein, who discusses the work entailed in using Bernard Herrmann’s score in a different fashion than heard in the original. Bernstein also relates a great anecdote about Herrmann and Alfred Hitchcock and the ill-fated scoring sessions for Torn Curtain that ended their relationship.
Behind the Scenes of the Fourth of July Parade (2:12, 480p, FF) – This is a quick look at some on-set video from the Parade shoot, intercut with the actual scene in the movie.
On the Set of the Houseboat (1:44, 480p, FF) – This is an even quicker look at some on-set video of the Houseboat crash, as filmed on a stage with a gimbal-mounted boat, a tank, a rain tower and several fire hoses. There’s one funny line at the end where Nick Nolte sarcastically asks Scorcese if he wants another take of the shot as “the actors may not…”
Photograph Montage (9:01 Total, 480p, FF) – This is actually a collection of three different photo montages that can be viewed individually or via a “Play All” button. One covers “The Physical Transformation of Robert De Niro’s Max Cady”. The second covers “The Cast of Cape Fear”. The third is “Martin Scorcese Directs Cape Fear”. In each case, the photos are displayed to the tune of the Bernard Herrmann music and intercut with appropriate clips from the movie.
Matte Paintings (0:54, 480p, Non-Anamorphic) – This is a brief collection of “Before and After” shots where you can see how the VFX of angry skies or fireworks or such were laid into existing shots.
Opening Credits (11:42, 480p, Non-Anamorphic) – Saul Bass’ credit sequences for Vertigo, Psycho, Spartacus and Casino are included here for reference.
Theatrical Trailer (2:35, 480p, Non-Anamorphic) – The movie’s theatrical trailer is included here – which is actually a refreshing change of pace from the usual Blu-ray releases that don’t include trailers these days.
My Scenes – The usual Blu-ray bookmarking feature is available here, allowing the viewer to set their own bookmarks throughout the film.
BD-Live - This Blu-ray includes access to Universal’s BD-Live online site, allowing for the viewing of trailers online.
pocket BLU – This Blu-ray includes the usual pocket BLU functionality, enabling viewers with appropriate laptop, iPad or smart phone integration to remotely control their Blu-ray player and access some of the bonus content from the separate device.
Subtitles are available for the film and the special features, in English and Spanish. A full chapter menu is available for the film.
IN THE END...
Martin Scorcese’s Cape Fear is an entertaining exercise in technique and style, but not much beyond that. It features Scorcese using all the tools he can to bring a genre thriller to life, and a wild performance by Robert De Niro, and it may well be required viewing for fans of the two men’s filmography together. Is it the equal of the 1962 film? No, but it isn’t trying to be that. It’s a different take on the same material, with its own advantages and disadvantages. And the new Blu-ray presents the movie with solid high definition picture and sound, coupled with the extras package from the earlier DVD release. Casual viewers looking for good, creepy fun for Halloween may well enjoy a rental here.
Kevin Koster
October 21, 2011.
Equipment now in use in this Home Theater:
Panasonic 65” VT30 Plasma 3D HDTV – set at “THX” picture mode
Denon AVR-3311Cl Receiver
Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray Player
PS3 Player (used for calculation of bitrates for picture and sound)
5 Mirage Speakers (Front Left/Center/Right, Surround Back Left/Right)
2 Sony Speakers (Surround Left/Right – middle of room)
Martin Logan Dynamo 700 Subwoofer
