Robert Mitchum or Robert DeNiro (Cape Fear)

[bisley]

I'm watching the original Cape Fear (1962, B&W), with Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck...a great classic, with Mitchum playing a part he was born to play. Gregory Peck, as always, was good, and it has some good character actors, as well. I like B&W movies, and usually prefer the old style suspense movies to the newer, more graphic ones. I'm a great fan of Robert Mitchum, simply because of his attitude and approach to acting (just a job - he never even watched the finished movies).

But I can't honestly say Mitchum was better, because DeNiro was just so good, especially when you consider that he's a New Yorker playing a southern redneck.

[Big Al1]

One on one I'd pick Mitchum, he was a REAL tough guy. He'd mix it up with anyone, he once knocked out a former boxing champ on a moive set, 'cause he pissed Mitchum off!! I love both versions of the movie, and DeNiro was awesome.

[Slanteyedshootist]

Another vote for Mitchum. I really like the old time movie stars. But DeNiro is a great actor as well. Cape Fear is one of the few remakes that I enjoyed. Most suck big time.

[Big Chief]

One on one I'd pick Mitchum, he was a REAL tough guy. He'd mix it up with anyone, he once knocked out a former boxing champ on a move set, 'cause he pissed Mitchum off!! I love both versions of the movie, and DeNiro was awesome.

Mitchum, he had a great persona about him. I liked him in Thunder Road too!

[bisley]

Mitchum, he had a great persona about him. I liked him in Thunder Road too!

That's the thing - Mitchum always played something close to his real persona, in the movies he was really good in. DeNiro was really having to act.

[samzhere]

The performances were both terrific. DeNiro isn't a genuine tough guy in real life but he's a skillful actor and can certainly play a menacing type. So the two movies are pretty equal. The newer was able to take greater liberties with the sexual connections between the daughter and menacing stalker, a bit more realistic.

Two TRUE stories about this thread subject: When I lived in California, one of my work buddies had a lovely nice wife named Suki (a Japanese gal). One day he phoned her and said he'd pick up dinner and a movie, what did she want? Pizza! Okay, any preferences for a movie? "Suah," Suki said, "Cab Fare" So my pal is thinking Cab Fare? and Suki replies "Suah, you know, Lobelt Denilo in Cab Fare"

So my buddy naturally rents "Taxi Driver" only to find out that Suki had her heart set on "Cape Fear" (you know, Cab Fare).

The other story... It was about '85 and I was in Baltimore for a tech conference, staying at the Lord Baltimore hotel, and it being a quiet afternoon, I went into their mahogany old-time bar, you know, dim lighting, bartenders w. bowties, etc. So I sat there and started sipping a Bud and glanced around, then saw this guy sitting way down at the end. I looked at him, looked, thought "No way" but I decided Yes and took my beer down toward him.

"Excuse me sir, are you Robert Mitchum?" "Yeah, what the f--- do you want to do about it?" Which was stunning but I was ready. "Sir, I don't want to bother you but I just wanted to say that I enjoy your acting, especially in Night of the Hunter"

So Mitchum turned and smiled crookedly at me. "Night of the Hunter, eh? Have a seat, let's chat a while." I'd known that film was his fave and hoped it would get a mention. What it got was about half hour of pleasant chat, a scrawled bar napkin autograph, and a great memory. All the time, looking at this guy, older he was, but I got the feeling he could empty out the whole bar if he felt like it.

[bruchi]

As much as I find De Niro a great actor that again makes a great physical transformation for this role, Mitchum gets my vote, as Madonna said, he gives "great face".

[drwalker47]

DeNiro was great, but my vote to Mitchum.

[Make_My_Day]

I never saw the original, but IMO DeNiro played one evil sonova'B in that movie.

[coolgunguy]

Haven't seen the remake, but loved the original, so mitchum gets my vote on a provisional basis...

[Big Chief]

I find remakes of any movie aren't usually as good as the original, with few exceptions. Holds true for a lot of sequels too.

[beartracker]

Mitchum hands down

[shooter]

Thanks for the thread guys! I've never seen either one and you've got my interest. I just found both on Blue-Ray disc at Amazon, although the Mitchum version is scheduled for release (Blue-Ray) next week. It's been pre-ordered and I will look forward to comparing the versions myself.

eta. The ratings on Amazon show the earlier version to be slightly ahead from viewer input.

http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Fear-Blu-...ords=cape+fear

[samzhere]

Last night cable showed on of the best solid dramas in recent years, "True Confessions" Set in the 50s, Deniro is an influencial diocscean priest, his younger brother Robert Duvall a tough LA homicide cop. Their conversations result in a continuing confesson betteen them, some formal, some friendly.

Film directed by Francis Cord Coppola, produced by Robert Evans (Chinatown). The supporting cast is headed by Charles Durning (whom we recently lost) as a shady constructor who tries to manipulate diosocean construction plans to his favor. The script is losely based on the infamous Black Dahilia murders. The movie is intelligent and well paced, deeply psychological and interesting. Both Deniro and Duvall are superb, as always.