<P> Cape Fear is a 1991 American psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and a remake of the 1962 film of the same name . It stars Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis, and features cameos from Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, and Martin Balsam, who all appeared in the original film . It was Peck's final theatrical film . The film tells the story of a convicted rapist, who, using mostly his newfound knowledge of the law and its numerous loopholes, seeks vengeance against a former public defender whom he blames for his 14 - year imprisonment due to purposefully faulty defense tactics used during his trial . </P> <P> Cape Fear marks the seventh of eight collaborations between Scorsese and De Niro, the others being Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), New York, New York (1977), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1982), Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). The film received positive reviews and received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor (De Niro) and Best Supporting Actress (Lewis). </P> <P> Sam Bowden is a lawyer in the town of New Essex, North Carolina . Max Cady is a former client whom Bowden defended 14 years earlier when he was working as a public defender in Atlanta . Cady was tried for the violent rape and battery of a young woman . Bowden, appalled by Cady's crime, buried evidence that might have lightened Cady's sentence or even secured his acquittal . After his release from prison, Cady tracks down Bowden . He studied law in prison and assumed his own defense, unsuccessfully appealing his conviction several times . Cady hints he has learned about Bowden burying the report . </P> <P> Several incidents involving Cady impact the Bowden family, which consists of Bowden's wife Leigh and their teenage daughter Danielle . The family dog is poisoned . Cady lurks near their property . Bowden attempts to have Cady arrested, but police lieutenant Elgart, says there is no evidence of a crime . At a bar, Cady meets Bowden's colleague Lori Davis . At her house, Cady cuffs her hands, breaks her arm, and rapes her . Lori refuses to press charges, ashamed of what happened . Bowden hires private investigator Claude Kersek to follow Cady . </P>

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