7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Small-town lawyer Sam Bowden's life becomes torturous when Max Cady re-enters his life. Cady went to jail for 8 years after Bowden testified that Cady attacked a young woman. Now that Cady has been released, he begins to terrorize Bowden and his family, particularly targeting Bowden's daughter, Nancy. Initially, Cady uses his newfound knowledge of the law (learned in prison) to annoy the Bowdens, then poisons the family dog... Who's next ?
Starring: Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Martin Balsam, Telly SavalasPsychological thriller | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 2.0
German: DTS 2.0
Italian: DTS 2.0
Japanese: DTS 2.0
Portuguese: DTS 2.0
Russian: DTS 2.0
Spanish: DTS 2.0
Spanish: DTS 2.0
English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
J. Lee Thompson's "Cape Fear" (1962) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal Studios-UK. Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray disc. In English, with optional English SDH, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish (continental), Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (continental), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
If looks could kill...
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with VC-1 and granted a 1080p transfer, J. Lee Thompson's Cape Fear arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal Studios-UK.
There are traces of mild filtering throughout the entire film. Some are easier to spot (see how the shadows break up under Mitchum's eyes in screenshot #1), but others are extremely small and practically unnoticeable (see screenshot #14). This said, some light grain has been retained, but it is not always evenly distributed. Some of the best looking sequences are during the second half of the film, before and after Mitchum and Peck meet at the docks (see screenshot #3). Color reproduction is also very strong here, with the blacks, whites, and the variety of grays looking perfectly balanced. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern, but there are a couple of scenes where some harshness occasionally creeps in. There are no serious banding and aliasing issues either. Lastly, the high-definition transfer is free of large cuts, damage marks, stains, and warps. All in all, the presentation is decent enough to recommend the Blu-ray, but it is clear that it could have been a lot stronger. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu. Please note that the main menu can be set in one of the following languages: English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Russian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Mandarin).
There are nine audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Japanese DTS 2.0, French DTS 2.0
Italian DTS 2.0, Spanish DTS 2.0, German DTS 2.0, Portuguese (Brazil) DTS 2.0, Spanish (Latin America) DTS 2.0, and Russian DTS 2.0. For the record, Universal Studios-UK have provided optional English SDH, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish (continental), Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (continental), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Traditional Mandarin subtitles for the main feature.
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track opens up the film very well. Bernard Herrmann's score, in particular, benefits the most, but the dialog is also consistently crisp, clean, and stable. Still, the dynamic amplitude is quite limited, so do not expect the loseless track to test your system. For the record, there are no synch issues, distortions, or audio dropouts to report in this review.
Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray disc.
What makes J. Lee Thompson's Cape Fear such an entertaining film is Robert Mitchum's Max Cady. He is a real monster. Martin Scorsese's famous remake is also worthy of praise, but it is a different film, a lot more complex and populated with characters who can exist only within the boundaries of the story the film tells. Mitchum's character is a man who looks and feels real. The film's presentation is decent enough to recommend the Blu-ray, but it is clear that it could have been a lot stronger. RECOMMENDED.
30th Anniversary Edition
1991
Premium Collection
1953
2016
Warner Archive Collection
1950
Masters of Cinema
1973
Premium Collection
1951
Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1949
1994
Special Edition
1991
1947
1987
2011
Vintage Classics
1978
2007
Director's Cut
2009
2014
Indicator Series
1953
1955
2001
Masters of Cinema
1973