VIDDIES : You Decide Which One Is Creepier

MCA/Universal Home Video is getting plenty of copies of the 1962 “Cape Fear,” starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Polly Bergen, ready for video stores, before the release Wednesday of Martin Scorsese’s remake.

MCA/Universal’s marketing vice president Andrew Kairey said the original, which sells for $19.95, has been repackaged. “We think there will be an increase in sales, so we plan to ship a sizable number,” he said. Released on video in February, 1987, the original hasn’t been a big seller so far, Kairey admitted.

Tower Video plans to order 400-500 copies for its 64-store chain, according to product manager Vicki Mehring, and will display them prominently. “When these sequels and remakes come out, the originals often do good business on home video,” she said. “It happened with ‘Narrow Margin,’ which stars Gene Hackman. It’s a remake of a 1952 movie. Turner sold lots of videos of the original--and the original wasn’t selling at the time.”