Jake LaMotta Double Feature

Jake LaMotta was a boxer. He wrote a few books as he got older. Below are the reviews of the two films made from a couple of his books.

Raging Bull (1980)

C – 129m (Theatrical Cut) / 121m (Television Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Raging Bull
Based On The Book By: Jake La Motta (as Jake LaMotta)
With: Joseph Carter and Peter Savage
Screenplay By: Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin
Producers: Irving Winkler, Robert Cartoff and Peter Savage
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo, Charles Scorsese, Bernie Allen, Jack Lotz, Peter Savage, Martin Scorsese, John Turturro, McKenzie Westmore and Jimmy Williams.
Cinematography By: Michael Chapman
Editing By: Thelma Schoonmaker

The emotional self–destructive journey of Jake La Motta from his highs in the ring and his lows outside of it. Gripping and yet repulsive character study of boxer Jake LaMotta is tops! Wonderful cinematography, editing, acting and sound. A MUST WATCH! De Niro certainly earned his Oscar®.

Trivia: When Jake LaMotta first saw the film he realized how nasty he was. He asked the real person who Cathy Moriarty played, “Was I really like that?” She replied, “You were worse.” This is Cathy Moriarty’s film debut. In 1978 Scorsese was near death in a hospital due to a Cocaine addiction. Robert De Niro visited him and told him to clean up so he could do this film. Scorsese refused because he didn’t like sports film but gave in because De Niro persisted. Scorsese has since said that De Niro saved his life by getting him back into work. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci really punch each other in the, “Hit me” scene. Robert De Niro accidentally broke Joe Pesci’s rib in a sparring scene. Years later Pesci would have the same rib broken making: Casino (1995), with De Niro and Scorsese. Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds for play an older LaMotta, while Joe Pesci lost weight to play the older version of his character. Finally, the editing of the film lasted almost up to the last minute that the film was set to be released. 

Oscar® winner for: Best Actor – Robert De Niro and Best Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker. Additionally nominations for Oscars® were: Best Picture – Irving Winkler and Robert Cartoff, Best Director – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actor – Joe Pesci, Best Supporting Actress Cathy Moriarty, Best Cinematography – Michael Chapman and Best Sound. Golden Globe winner for: Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama – Robert De Niro. Additionally Golden Globe nominated for: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture – Cathy Moriarty, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Joe Pesci, New Star Of The Year In A Motion Picture – Female – Cathy Moriarty and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin.

Rated: [R]

Out Of Print on VHS and Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The Bronx Bull (2016 / 2017)

C – 94m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Raging Bull II
Raging Bull 2
Based On The Book By: Jake LaMotta, Chris Anderson and Sharon McGehee
Screenplay By: Rustam Branaman and Martin Guigui
Exec. Pro. – Dir.: Martin Guigui
Starring: William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, Penelope Ann Miller, Ray Wise, Natasha Henstridge, James Russo, Robert Davi, Cloris Leachman, Mike Starr, Joe Cortese, Dom Irrera, Rebecca Forsythe and Joey Diaz.

Another take on the LaMotta drama in and out of the boxing ring. A sorry excuse for a remake / sequel features a great cast but nothing else. The talents of the cast can’t even save the less than sub–par material.

Rated: [R] – Brutal Fights, Pervasive Language & Some Sexual Content / Nudity
Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Cape Fear (1962 & 1991)

Cape Fear (1962)

B&W – 106m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Executioners
Novel: The Executioners / Cape Fear (Rerelease Title) by John D. MacDonald
Screenwriter: James R. Webb
Dir.: J. Lee Thompson
Starring: Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Lori Martin, Martin Balsam, Telly Savalas, Barrie Chase, Edward Platt, Will Wright, Joan Staley, Herb Armstrong, Cindy Carol, Don Anderson, Eddie Baker, Fred Rappaport and Jeffrey Sayre.
Music By: Bernard Herrmann

A lawyer’s family is terrorized by a man he once helped put into jail. A disturbing tale to be sure, but it boasts of great talent on both sides of the camera and the score is haunting. It may come as a surprise that this was not a Hitchcock film but had all the elements of one. Worth a watch, if for no other reason that to compare it to the Martin Scorsese remake. 

Trivia: This film was a financial flop and ended Gregory Peck’s film production company, Melville Productions. He got the name of the company when he played Captain Ahab in Moby Dick (1956). Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck did not get along well in real life after Mitchum told people he acted Gregory Peck off the screen in this film. For Peck’s part, he felt he paid Mitchum handsomely and that he had given Mitchum the better part. Robert Mitchum didn’t want to do the film until Gregory Peck had a case of Bourbon to his house. Mitchum’s response was: “Okay, I’ve drunk your bourbon. I’m Drunk. I’ll do it.”  

Polly Bergan suffered minor bruising at the hands of Mitchum when he pushed her through a series of doors. He was using her as a battering ram because a crew member mistakenly locked some of the doors. The hotel were Mitchum takes Barrie Chase is, “Mother’s House,” from Psycho (1960), where Martin Balsam met his end some two years earlier. Rod Steiger wanted to play Max Cady but backed off when he heard Robert Mitchum was after the role. Telly Savalas was originally screen tested for Max Cady but played the private detective, Charly Sievers, instead. Earnest Borgnine was originally offered the role of Max Cady. Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jack Palance, John Wayne and Charlton Heston were all considered for the role of Sam Bowden. When Heston, who was originally cast, dropped out of the film, Gregory Peck replaced him. J. Lee Thompson originally wanted Haley Mills for the role of Nancy Bowden but couldn’t get her because she was contracted to Walt Disney Studios. Jim Backus was set to play attorney Dave Grafton but left because of his new show, Gilligan’s Island (1964 – 1967). This film correctly depicts what someone sees when they look through binoculars.

And finally: The Hollywood Production Code Office censored idea of Max Cady being a Officer who executed the brutal rape of a 14 – year–old girl and was convicted because of then Lt. Boden’s testimony. They forced the removal of the word, “rape,” and said that depicting Cady as an officer reflected poorly on the US Armed Forces.  

Out Of Print on VHS & Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Cape Fear (1991)

C – 128m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen / 2.35:1 – Widescreen (Blu–ray)
Novel: The Executioners by John D. MacDonald
Earlier Screenplay By: James R. Webb
Screenplay By: Wesley Strick
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Notle, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Joe Don Baker, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Martin Balsam, Illeana Douglas, Edgar Allan Poe IV, Catherine Scorsese and Charles Scorsese.
Original Score: Bernard Herrmann
Adapted Score: Elmer Bernstein

A prisoner is released from prison only to harass the family of the man he believed helped put him in there. A more horrifying version of the classic film is, itself, a cult classic. Great cast with wonderful talent on both sides of the camera. De Niro is more menacing than Mitchum though. A must watch for comparison sake.

Trivia: Nick Nolte lost a fair amount of weight for his role. Interestingly Robert Redford was considered for Nolte’s role. More on that role in a few… Robert De Niro was tattooed with vegetable dyes that faded away after a few months. The thick accent De Niro used to play Cady gave Martin Scorsese the creeps. As such, De Niro would call Scorsese’s house as Cady and leave messages. The scene of De Niro and Juliette Lewis in the school building was completely adlibbed, shot in three takes, but the first take is the one you see in the film. Juliette Lewis reportedly developed a crush on Robert De Niro during the drama class seduction scene.

Nicole Kidman lobbied for the role that went to Juliette Lewis but Scorsese wanted a younger actress. Drew Barrymore auditioned for Juliette Lewis’ role but failed. Reese Witherspoon also auditioned for the same role. Additionally Christina Applegate and Alyssa Milano auditioned for the role but had to turn it down for their own respective reasons. Also Jennifer Connelly and Winona Ryder turned down the role. This was Gregory Peck’s final appearance in a theatrical film before his death on June 12, 2008 at the age of 87.

Steven Spielberg was originally set to direct but recommended Martin Scorsese for the job. When Spielberg was set to direct he planned to cast Bill Murray as Max Cady. Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky in that horror franchise, was considered for the role of Max Cady. Mitchum replaced George C. Scott who dropped out of this film due to health issues. The adapted score by Elmer Bernstein, of the original Bernard Herrmann score, also featured unused portions of Bernstein’s score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain (1966). 

Rated: [R] – Strong Violence & Language
Out Of Print on VHS & Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The King Of Comedy (1983) & The Comedian (2017)

The King Of Comedy (1982)

C. – 109m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: King Of Comedy
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott, Sandra Bernhard, Ed Herlihy, Lou Brown, Catherine Scorsese, Cathy Scorsese, Chuck Low, Liza Minnelli, Joyce Brothers, Victor Borge, Martin Scorsese, Tony Randall, Charles Scorsese and Fredrick De Cordova. 

An aspiring comedian stalks his idol, who in turn craves his own privacy. Considered a flop at the time of its release this film actually has several things going for it, perfect casting and great direction being a couple of them. This is far from the Zany Lewis films that the public is used to. While this is labeled a Comedy in video stores (how many still exist?), this is actually a drama. At that the humor in this film that does exist makes it a, “black comedy,” or in simple terms, it has a dark sense of humor. Something this reviewer adores. 

Trivia: Jerry Lewis suggested naming his character Jerry so that they could get extras without having to pay them while shooting on the streets of New York City. The scene where Rupert (De Niro) shows up at Jerry’s house was largely improvised. The issue Jerry’s “man” had with opening the door was not planned and Jerry was really mad. The reaction you see from him in the film is not his acting but his real anger at the situation. Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Orson Welles were considered for the role of the late night comedian. Johnny Carson was the only one offered the role but turned it down. The part obviously went to Jerry Lewis. Lewis said that he wasn’t acting in this film, he was just being himself. Meryl Streep turned down the role that went to Sandra Bernhard. The talk show segments were taped on tape like a real talk show, then transferred to film. The monologue Jerry delivers in it’s full and original form can be seen in the bonus features of the DVD and Blu–ray.     

Rated: [PG]
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.

The Comedian (2016 / 2017)

C. – 120m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Robert De Niro, Leslie Mann, Harvey Keitel, Edie Falco, Danny DeVito, Patti LuPone, Charles Grodin, Cloris Leachman, Lucy DeVito, Billy Crystal, Brett Butler, Ben Hammer, Jessica Kirson, Jim Norton, Jimmie Walker, Richard Belzer, Freddie Roman, Stewie Stone, Gilbert Gottfried, Hannibal Burgess, Bill Boggs, Sheng Wang, Ryan Hamilton, Aida Rodriguez, Dov Davidoff and Nick Di Paolo.

An aging “Insult Comedian” finds love.  The film has a few belly laughs but is ultimately an indie film drama. The uneven flow of the film upset several comedians in the film and in Hollywood in general. If given more time and a better director, this could have been great. As it stands though, it isn’t bad for its kind. Leslie Mann stands out as the brightest performance in the film though. De Niro sleepwalks his way through the material. Still, he is a master of the trade, as are Danny DeVito and Harvey Keitel.

Trivia: Robert De Niro spent eight years trying to get this film made. The idea of the film came to him in the 1970’s. This is none of two films where De Niro plays a comedian, the other was: The King Of Comedy (1983). De Niro wanted Martin Scorsese to direct this as well, but that did not come to pass.

Rated: [R] – Crude Sexual References & Language Throughout
Available on Blu–ray (MOD), DVD & Digital Copy