Was the wife sexually assaulted? - Cape Fear (1962) Discussion

[–] ClassicSiren 17 years ago

Cady first did his whole thing with the eggs and then when he starts slapping her and putting her in a headlock he knocks he out i think :)

I need sex for a clear complexion, but I'd rather do it for love- Joan Crawford

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[–] eeleyebrown 17 years ago

His main object of torture was the daughter. He knew that would destroy Bowden more than attacking his wife.

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[–] forlorn_rage (139) 3 months ago

That did occur to me while watching the movie. That the main object was the protect the daughter, even after the wife was assaulted. It made me sad (and disgusted) that, not only, was this what the film was going for, but that it probably mirrors reality as well.

I get that that parents want to protect their children, but beloved spouses shouldn't be considered lesser or disposable in place of children. I would be devastated if my partner cared less for me and my security than for any kids or animals that we have.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] ClassicSiren 17 years ago

yeh, u should try squeezing an egg, its actually much harder than it looks

I need sex for a clear complexion, but I'd rather do it for love- Joan Crawford

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ClassicSiren 17 years ago

lol. nah, nope can do lol. u could do it outside ;?

I need sex for a clear complexion, but I'd rather do it for love- Joan Crawford

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[–] gwen24 17 years ago

According to Robert Mitchum's biography by Lee Server, p.358-359, the Director of Cape Fear, J.Lee Thompson, improvised the business of the eggs at the last minute before the scene was shot. " It went much further than we were ever able to use." said Thompson. Server goes on to say that Max Cady's brutalizing and sexual assault on Bowden's wife, Peggy,etc. The film was heavily censored. Server says that Mitchum's face of smiling hatred was a stunning and utterly unforgettable creation . Very interesting book.

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[–] eastcoastguyz 17 years ago

Thanks for posting that!

It looks like they intended for it to be a sexual assault, but because of the censhorship it does appear to be ambiguous.

I also agree it does come across that Cady was more out to strike terror than sexually assault her. If they had been clear she was sexually assault, as a pure story line then it would have been a hollow victory to finally kill Cady. Plus it would leave you feeling that they really didn't win against this evil force. Of course, the experience of the whole ordeal by itself is not walk in the park, but movies have a way of showing the hero safe and sound, and whatever happen is behind them and they aren't troubled by it anymore which in real life isn't true.

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[–] ClassicSiren 17 years ago

crikey!! i wonder what happened that made them unable to use the footage!! i wonder how bad it was. apparently after filming the scene polly bergens back was damaged and straight after mitch had snapped out of max cady mode he took her in his arms and started saying softly 'i'm so sorry i'm soo sorry'
sounds corny but he was soo apologetic for losing himself like he did. all together now 'awwwwwwwwwwwwwh'.

I need sex for a clear complexion, but I'd rather do it for love- Joan Crawford

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[–] Cello1949-2 15 years ago

I read that Polly Bergen's perfomance in those scenes were so realistic that she seemed to become hysterical and the crew became concerned. I guess it is very possible to become caught up in your character.

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[–] scotbpens 15 years ago

"yeh, u should try squeezing an egg, its actually much harder than it looks."

Robert Mitchum was a muscular guy. STRONG LIKE BULL!

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[–] Jes' Sayin' (5958) 6 years ago

More likely the egg was pre-cracked slightly.

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[–] Underdog_73 (756) 5 years ago

The egg didn't need to be pre-cracked. Crushing an egg in your hand takes no effort at all. I'm assuming the previous poster was confused by the one way it is hard to break an egg and that's squeezing solely on the ends. That didn't happen here. Robert Mitchum simply crushed in in his palm. A child could do it.

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[–] BillieDove 16 years ago

I think it was meant not to be clear.

After all, when Peck finds her, she's naked, isn't she? Naked and agonizing and crying...

"Well, I think if people loved eachother more, they'd shoot eachother less!"

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[–] Noirdame79 16 years ago

Polly Bergen has referred to the scene in question as the "rape scene" and also, Barrie Chase's character is not naked when is she is discovered, but clad in a sheet - but there can be little doubt as to what happened to her.

So sweet that Mitchum was so tender to Bergen after the pain she went through filming that part.

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[–] Brandos_Bitch 14 years ago

Im not sure what happens.On one hand,Bergen does tell Sam that Cadys plan was to distract him and go for Nancy.But on the other side,she is SOO shaken up and hysterical when Sam finds her that its hard to say.Also,it appears she may may be naked,allthough that may be just the camera angle or something.

I think the director decided to leave it ambigous on purpose.

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[–] poetcomic1 12 years ago

No, they just had scrambled eggs together and he left after insulting her cooking which is why she was so upset.

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[–] eastcoastguyz 12 years ago

Thanks,dliebert-2 for clearing that up with your insightful and intelligent post.

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[–] Bloom6000 12 years ago

My theory is that Cady only made threats to the wife to sexually assault her, then slapping her around and pushing her to the ground. His main target was Nancy, who he had planned to sexually abuse as the main revenge against Sam Bowden.

CAPS LOCK: Are you ready to unleash the fury?

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[–] IloveMuggy 12 years ago

I find it hard to believe that Cady wouldn't have raped the wife. But yes, it is definitely left open.

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[–] realroman 12 years ago

IMO, he didnt rape her otherwise he would have ended up in jail easily, which is something we clearly know he wanted to avoid.

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[–] MrBlondNYC 12 years ago

He explained to her that he couldn't be convicted of rape because she was actually giving her consent.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

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[–] telegonus 12 years ago

I saw the movie again last night and once Cady was on the houseboat his time was limited vis a vis Peck's arrival, something he of course couldn't have known about, but based on the timeline of the film Cady almost certainly didn't have sex with the wife due to his not having the time,--his real target was the daughter--so I'd say no. He just roughed the wife up. However the time issue is odd in the film's final scenes, as Cady's behavior seems too slow for a man in his position, as I see it anyway, and with Peck's character in hot pursuit how could he have had the time to talk to the wife as he did, crushed the eggs on her chest, then go upstairs and play cat and mouse with the daughter for what feels like three or four minutes.

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[–] singjohn 11 years ago

There is literally 10 seconds in between the time Cady is slapping the wife and when Peck bursts in and finds her on the floor. Not really enough time to rape her. Also she is clearly still dressed (her shoulder straps are down which is why some viewers mistakenly thought she was nude).

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[–] BoyWiththeGreenHair 10 years ago

The editing seems to indicate a passage of time in which it is conceivable that he could have raped the wife, but I was more curious about what happened to Nancy. Its way more unclear because all we see is him dragging her into the swamp with his hand over her mouth clasping her arm - Peck randomly bumps into him and Nancy is nowhere to be seen - but the next time we see her she's on the ground, disoriented, and disheveled. After that she's introverted, covered in a blanket, and is clearly nursing some kind of trauma - which could just be associated with everything else that happened, but we honestly don't know. The footage is so choppy from all the censorship that its confusing.

Going by the book I guess we can infer that he never did rape either one of them but I get the impression that we're led to believe he got a lot closer than is shown on screen.

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[–] bobbydallas (8059) 6 months ago

Cady did not rape the wife

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