Cape Fear (1962) - Being remade by Martin Scorsese in 1991 with Robert de Niro and Nick Nolte, the original cape fear starred Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck in the title roles. Spending eight years in prison, Max Candy (Mitchum) is released and hunts down the Sam Bowden (Peck) the lawyer he feels was responsible for his conviction. This film is one of the best thrillers of all time with and ending you won’t soon forget.
W.R. Hearst commanded all of his publications to neither condemn nor promote the film as a gesture towards the friendship between the Hearsts and the Welles families. Since Hearst had a near monopoly on U.S. publications in print across the states, it was perceived as a dud film by the public as they couldn't garner a review either way. Remember now, these were times when people relied on papers for their news and pennies were short. Too short to waste on a film with no review from their only news sources.
The film opened to mixed reviews and exclusive theaters anti-Hearst promotions. It still profited. It was only after W.R. Hearst and Howard Hughes' deaths that the film actually gained any notoriety. It's a good film for the history of its back story. Not for it's exclusive artistry.
Bridge Over The River Kwai. The Sound Of Music. The Best Years Of Our Lives. Stalag 17. The Exorcist. Doctor Zhivago. .... There are so many more that deserve to be on this threads list. Sadly, they're not.