IMDb > The American Friend (1977)
Der amerikanische Freund
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The American Friend (1977) More at IMDbPro »Der amerikanische Freund (original title)

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The American Friend -- Open-ended Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   4,988 votes »
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Director:
Wim Wenders
Writers:
Patricia Highsmith (novel) and
Wim Wenders
Contact:
View company contact information for The American Friend on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 June 1977 (West Germany) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Mystery | Thriller | Drama See more »
Plot:
Tom Ripley, who deals in forged art, suggests a picture framer he knows would make a good hit man. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
6 wins & 2 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(32 articles)
The 10 Best Dennis Hopper Performances, On What Would Have Been His 76th Birthday
 (From The Playlist. 17 May 2012, 10:45 AM, PDT)
Martin Scorsese Recommends 39 Foreign Films to Young Filmmaker
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 26 March 2012, 3:14 PM, PDT)
Getting His Wings: Oscar Nominee Wim Wenders on Pina
 (From Moviefone. 21 February 2012, 3:34 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Wenders' wonder. Don't overlook this one! See more (44 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Dennis Hopper ... Tom Ripley

Bruno Ganz ... Jonathan Zimmermann
Lisa Kreuzer ... Marianne Zimmermann
Gérard Blain ... Raoul Minot
Nicholas Ray ... Derwatt
Samuel Fuller ... Der Amerikaner
Peter Lilienthal ... Marcangelo

Daniel Schmid ... Igraham
Sandy Whitelaw ... Arzt in Paris
Jean Eustache ... Freundlicher Mann

Lou Castel ... Rodolphe
Andreas Dedecke ... Daniel
David Blue ... Allan Winter
Stefan Lennert ... Auktionator
Rudolf Schündler ... Gantner
Gerty Molzen ... Alte Dame
Heinz Joachim Klein ... Dr. Gabriel
Heinrich Marmann ... Herr im zug
Satya De La Manitou ... Angie
Axel Schiessler ... Lippo
Adolf Hansen ... Schaffner
Rosemarie Heinikel ... Mona
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Enzo Robutti ... Falling man (uncredited)

Wim Wenders ... Figure Wrapped in Plaster Bandages in Ambulance (uncredited)
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Directed by
Wim Wenders 
 
Writing credits
Patricia Highsmith (novel "Ripley's Game")

Wim Wenders 

Produced by
Renée Gundelach .... supervising producer
Margaret Ménégoz .... line producer
Joachim von Mengershausen .... producer: WDR
Wim Wenders .... producer
 
Original Music by
Jürgen Knieper 
 
Cinematography by
Robby Müller 
 
Film Editing by
Peter Przygodda 
 
Art Direction by
Heidi Lüdi 
Toni Lüdi 
 
Costume Design by
Isolde Nist 
 
Makeup Department
Evelyn Döhring .... makeup artist
Hannelore Uhrmacher .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Pierre Cottrell .... production manager
Harald Kügler .... unit manager
Michael Wiedemann .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmanuel Clot .... assistant director
Fritz Müller-Scherz .... assistant director
Philippe Schwartz .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Peter Braun .... props
Luigi De Luca .... props
Bernhard Frey .... props
Eckerhard Voggenreiter .... props
 
Sound Department
Milan Bor .... sound mixer
Jochen Bärwald .... assistant sound
Max Galinsky .... sound mixer
Peter Kaiser .... sound
Maryte Kavaliauskas .... sound assistant
Jens-Uwe Laddey .... assistant sound
Martin Müller .... sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
Theo Nischwitz .... special effects
 
Stunts
Klaus Schichan .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-François Casi .... crane operator: Louma crane
Marc Casi .... crane operator: Louma crane
Wolfgang Dell .... lighting technician
Hans Dreher .... grip
Ernst Harinko .... lighting technician
Ekkehard Heinrich .... lighting technician
Edward Lachman .... assistant camera
Jean-Marie Lavalou .... crane operator: Louma crane
Jean-Claude LeBras .... electrician
Robert Morsch .... electrician
Tassilo Peik .... lighting technician
Viktor Sauermann .... lighting technician
Martin Schäfer .... assistant camera
Jacques Steyn .... assistant camera
Hans Volkmann .... lighting technician
Andreas Willim .... electrician
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Renate Zimmermann .... wardrobe
 
Editorial Department
Gisela Bock .... assistant editor
Ingrid Träutlein-Peer .... assistant editor
Barbara von Weitershausen .... assistant editor
 
Other crew
Heinz Badewitz .... location manager
Claude Bertonazzi .... production administrator
Pat Kirck .... location manager: New York
Anne Povel .... bookkeeper
Philippe Schwartz .... location manager: Paris
Harald Vogel .... production assistant
Gretl Zeilinger .... script supervisor
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
  • Sickert  art direction & title (as Sickerts)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Der amerikanische Freund" - West Germany (original title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
125 min
Country:
West Germany | France
Language:
German | English | French
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:M | France:-12 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16 (f)
Filming Locations:
Alter Elbtunnel, St. Pauli, Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg, GermanySee more »
Company:
Bavaria FilmSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
After casting Dennis Hopper in the film, Wim Wenders decided to cast known directors as the criminal characters in the film. These included Nicholas Ray, Sam Fuller, and Gérard Blain.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Derwatt:Who is it?
Tom Ripley:It's Ripley.
Derwatt:The door is open.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Son of Gascogne (1995)See more »
Soundtrack:
Too Much on My MindSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
24 out of 28 people found the following review useful.
Wenders' wonder. Don't overlook this one!, 20 September 2001
Author: INFOFREAKO from Perth, Australia

Wim Wenders' movies are really a matter of taste. His detractors find his movies to be painfully slow, drawn out, pretentious affairs. Even I can admit to finding the prospect of sitting through some of his movies (particularly 'Until the End of the World' and 'Faraway, So Close!') almost unbearable. But when Wenders is on form he is hard to beat for mysterious, multi-layered, genuinely haunting movies.

Some people regard 'The American Friend' as a total bore, but I found it to be anything but, and almost equal to his masterpieces 'Paris, Texas' and 'Wings Of Desire'. Sure it is slow, and bound to frustrate those with MTV-type attention spans, but bear with it, and you will be rewarded.

Bruno Ganz is first rate as the picture-framer turned reluctant hitman, and Dennis Hopper, who is often ridiculed for his over the top self parodic "crazy guy" roles, is quietly impressive as the enigmatic, almost poetic Ripley. Compare his performance (and this movie as a whole) with Matt Damon's obvious turn in the more recent 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. It speaks volumes for how much less subtle and intelligent most contemporary movies have become.

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Ending, help! JackForrester
Lynchian undertones? mancunia
this movie is great!!! carlaisthe
director cameos: eustache teejay6682
what was the light-as-air square gold foil Bruno Ganz put on his hand tpc-9
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