Daily Dialogue — June 17, 2012

MAX CADY: Hey daddy, where does Sam Bowden hang out?

JANITOR: In there, sir. Court is about over, I think.

— Max Cady (Robert Mitchum), Janitor (Joseph Jenkins), Cape Fear (1961), screenplay by James R. Webb, based on a novel by John D. MacDonald

GUARD: Ok Cady, moment you’ve been waiting for.

GUARD 2: Any people coming for you, Cady?

Cady shakes his head.

GUARD 3: What about your books?

MAX CADY: Already read ‘em.

— Max Cady (Robert De Niro), Cape Fear (19), screenplay by Wesley Strick, base on a screenplay by James R. Webb, based on a novel by John D. MacDonald

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is originals and remakes, suggested by Saint716. Today’s suggestion by JasperLamarCrab.

Trivia: For the first time in Scorsese’s career, he allowed the screenwriter, Wesley Strick, on the set during filming.

Dialogue On Dialogue: JasperLamarCrab offers this commentary: The dialogue reflects the different conception of Cady in each version. Mitchum’s Cady is more realistic and low-key, like the movie. People don’t notice him at first. He’s ingratiating (when it serves him) and the first words in the movie are his. In Scorsese’s more expressionist remake, Cady is a larger than life figure and terrifying from the get-go (the complete ABSENCE of taunting dialogue and cat-calls from the other convicts as he walks out is significant here). Everybody watches him since he’s dangerous. He’s more obviously obsessed and since he’s got everybody’s attention already, doesn’t talk until three people have addressed him.