| Original suspense classic has legal attorney Sam Bowden (Peck) and his family plagued by just-released con Mitchum, who's hellbent on total revenge against the man who put him away 8 years before...
A great plot is magnificently realized by director Thompson (who nearly 20 years later would go on to direct the enjoyable 1981 slasher Happy Birthday to Me).
The pacing is carefully timed and moves along at a nice clip. Film powerhouses Peck and Mitchum are uniquely balanced in the lead roles: Mitchum is superb as the sinister animal villain Cady, Peck equally adept as the determined and protective father/husband.
And it's all capped by a wonderfully creepy boathouse-at-night climax. Highlighted by a memorable Bernard Herrmann original score. Remade in 1991.
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