Live Life Team
Here is a fine, old drama/thriller starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. The former is Sam Bowden, attorney at law, and the eye witness who put Max Cady (Mitchum) in prison years ago. Well, now he’s out, and he wants revenge. Of course, he’s a wily foe. He knows his rights, and he’s careful to always make himself look innocent.
The movie manages to make Mitchum’s character into a complete and total monster, someone to truly fear. This emotion comes through with only the power of his words for three-quarters of the film. Talk about powerful acting! How many of today’s actors could do that, Then comes the finale. Peck, desperate to protect his family (wife and teenage daughter) from the attack he knows is coming, hires some men to beat up Max. He’s able to fend them off, and one of the thugs turns state’s evidence on Sam, he’s looking at losing his license – or worse.
Then comes the violent ending. Mitchum’s performance gives the audience goosebumps as he terrorises Peck’s family – yet he never actually strikes any of them. This is yet another brilliant piece of acting. At times, the film has truly blood-curdling terror just about leaping off the screen. But, don’t bother with the remake starring Nick Nolte and Robert DeNiro. Although the remake is a violent and graphic film, it has none of the terror and suspense of the original.
If you do watch the two films, do it to see the difference between people who merely act, and performers who have the power to breathe real life into characters and into a story.
