On TCM tonight

I do like Scorcese's version as an experiment in lavish cinematic excess. Cady alone makes the remake is a classic; DeNiro hams it up as one of film's great cartoonish villains.

But for a more pure, more sinuous creepiness, try the original Cape Fear if you've never seen it. Bob Mitchum is one scary mofo. Nobody else can menace young children with such elegant vileness. I think his Cady is more substantial than DeNiro's, and is scarier even than Mitchum's other horrifying role: