Robert Mitchum can be frighteningly evil when he puts his mind to it and the two best examples are Night of the Hunter and this tense and chilling thriller.

He plays Max Cady, a psychopath recently released from prison. He's after the man who put him there, lawyer Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck).

Cady terrorises the family in various ways, but is smart enough to keep the law at arm's length. Eventually, Bowden realises he'll have to deal with Cady himself.

Even if you've seen the Robert De Niro/Nick Nolte version, this is well worth watching, because it's even better.

Mitchum is grimly realistic, Peck powerful as the family man backed into a corner and there are excellent supporting performances from Polly Bergen, Martin Balsam and Telly Savalas in a very early role.

Striking black and white photography heightens the sense of menace and J Lee Thompson's direction doesn't allow the tension to slacken for a moment.