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Mar 24, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Martin Scorsese may have added more violence and moral ambiguity (as well as a tatted-up, muscled-up, Bible and Henry Miller quoting De Niro) to his 1991 remake, but he didn't make the creepiness of the original. Peck is his usual dignified, upright self, Polly Bergen, Martin Balsam and Telly Savalas (still with hair) provide good support, but this film belongs to Robert Mitchum in his second greatest bad guy performance (behind "Night of the Hunter"). With his heavy-lidded eyes and languid sensuality, Mitchum is a force of menace and some of the violence, especially that he inflicts on women, is pretty raw for 1961. Based on John MacDonald's "The Executioners," Peck, who was also one of the producers, suggested the title change. Includes a pretty dull making of featurette.