This ‘Simpsons’ Episode Perfectly Parodied One of Martin Scorsese’s Most Iconic Movies

Season 5 of The Simpsons stands out as one of the show’s best, and it also features one of the series’ all-time greatest episodes, parodying the classic movie Cape Fear. In the appropriately titled episode, “Cape Feare,” Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) is back, and he wants revenge on Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright). The hilarious episode is one of the absolute best in a long line of recurring appearances by Sideshow Bob, and it’s also one of the best movie parody episodes of The Simpsons. It’s time to revisit why The Simpsons Season 5 was a golden age for the series.

‘Cape Feare’ Hilariously Parodies the Martin Scorsese Movie

Bart about to be grabbed by Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons.

In the first decade of The Simpsons’ run, the series would repeatedly parody movies, structuring entire episodes’ main storylines similar to those of various cinematic classics, i.e. the Season 6 episode, “Bart of Darkness,” being modeled after Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, and another classic episode in Season 5, “Marge on the Lam,” which parodies Thelma & Louise. “Cape Feare” directly parodies the classic 1962 film, along with the Scorsese remake, reenacting multiple scenes from the movie, but with a Simpsons-style twist. Case in point: When Bob hides under the Simpsons’ car, much like Robert De Niro as Max Cady in an iconic scene in the 1991 movie, Bob gets hit with cactus spines, multiple speed bumps, and has coffee poured all over him.

The episode also amusingly reenacts the Max Cady workout scene from the movie, complete with Sideshow Bob sporting tattoos all over his body, but they are comically goofier. Additionally, “Cape Feare” features a final act with a houseboat setting, much like the climax of the live-action movie. However, in The Simpsons version, Bart outsmarts Bob by persuading him to perform the entirety of the Gilbert and Sullivan musical, H.M.S. Pinafore, featuring an uproarious montage of Bob performing various musical numbers from the show.

Another hallmark that began in “Cape Feare” can be found in how the episode utilizes the classic score from the original 1962 movie, which was also used in Scorsese’s version. The Cape Fear music would ultimately become Sideshow Bob’s recurring theme throughout The Simpsons. This is also the first episode that establishes the signature gag of Bob stepping on rakes, essentially providing the character with his own trademark and grumbling moan, which became the character’s catchphrase.

The Episode Features Strong Continuity

Most episodes of The Simpsons are standalone plots that can be watched in any order. However, “Cape Feare” showcases a rare instance of The Simpsons using internal continuity and referencing earlier storylines. For example, in the first half of the episode, Bob is still in prison for attempting to murder Marge Simpson’s (Julie Kavner) sister, Selma Bouvier (Kavner), in the Season 3 episode, “Black Widower.” The events of that episode, along with Bob’s original appearance in the first season episode, “Krusty Gets Busted,” are referenced throughout the courtroom scene.

Selma even shows up to Bob’s parole hearing to testify against him, pointing out how Bob tried to kill her while on their honeymoon. In another instance of comedic irony that only The Simpsons can deliver, Bob achieves his parole when the Blue Haired Lawyer (Dan Castellaneta) polls the court attendees on who else is thinking about killing Selma. Selma’s own twin sister, Patty, raises her hand in agreement, pointing out how her sister always leaves the toilet seat up.

Historical continuity is not always necessary in The Simpsons, but it serves as a welcome addition to the episode because it raises the emotional stakes between Bart and Bob, reinforcing Sideshow Bob as a dangerous menace who also terrifies Bart. Yet somehow, the underdog Bart always comes through and foils Bob’s evil schemes. Future Sideshow Bob stories would also frequently reference his past appearances, such as his next appearance in Season 6, “Sideshow Bob Roberts,” when Bob runs for Mayor of Springfield and even wins the election. “Cape Feare” further established that anytime Sideshow Bob would show up in the series, the episode was a must-see installment, especially to see how the series would playfully reference earlier episodes.

‘Cape Feare’ Is One of ‘The Simpsons’ Best Episodes

The Simpsons - Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) performs H.M.S. Pinafore — Sideshow Bob performs a musical in The Simpsons.

“Cape Feare” reinforces why The Simpsons series was firing on all cylinders during the 1990s, and the show could practically do no wrong. Sideshow Bob continued as a strong recurring adversary and staple of the show, and the episodes featuring the vengeful villain became a highlight of the season. At this point in the show’s run, Sideshow Bob would usually reappear as an antagonist once a year, but “Cape Feare” stands out as the character’s best, partly because it’s so dark, with Bob acting so unapologetically in his goal of murdering Bart, complete with Bob sending Bart threatening letters written in Bob’s own blood.

Coincidentally, the episode aired shortly after the debut of Frasier, starring Grammer, on NBC, marking a big transition in the actor’s career, as he took his Cheers character into what would become its own television juggernaut. Yet, as fantastic as Grammer was in Frasier, one can never forget his cultured, dry wit and impeccable comedic timing as Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons that always hits the mark. Bob is easily one of Grammer’s most entertaining characters, showcasing Bob’s psychotic megalomania with his well-defined high-society charm.

Sideshow Bob enjoys the finer things in life, but his refined, snobbish attitude is comically juxtaposed by his murderous hatred for Bart. Grammer always delivers a pitch-perfect vocal performance as Bob, and getting to see his musical talents in action, performing segments of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, was an amazing experience. The Sideshow Bob episodes were always memorable, but this storyline parodying Cape Fear was the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae. It cements Bob as Bart’s long-running arch-nemesis, while the mischievous Bart works as the perfect foil to the highly cultured and refined Bob. “Cape Feare” easily deserves its spot in the show’s history as one of its most beloved and celebrated episodes.