Purple Noon (1960)

Tom Ripley is a talented mimic, moocher, forger and all-around criminal improviser; but there's more to Tom Ripley than even he can guess.

Director:

René Clément

Writers:

Patricia Highsmith (novel), René Clément (adaptation)

Stars:

Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alain Delon	...	Tom Ripley
Marie Laforêt	...	Marge Duval (as Marie Laforet)
Maurice Ronet	...	Philippe Greenleaf
Erno Crisa	...	Inspector Ricordi
Frank Latimore	...	O'Brien
Billy Kearns	...	Freddy Miles (as Bill Kearns)
Ave Ninchi	...	Signora Gianna
Viviane Chantel	...	The Belgian lady
Nerio Bernardi	...	Agency Director
Barbel Fanger
Lily Romanelli	...	Housekeeper
Nicolas Petrov	...	Boris
Elvire Popesco	...	Mrs. Popova

Storyline

Tom Ripley is sent to Europe by Mr. Greenleaf to fetch his spoiled, playboy son, Philippe, and bring him back home to the States. In return, Tom will receive $5,000. Philippe toys with Tom, pretending he will go back home, but has no intentions of leaving his bride to be, Marge, and honoring his father's wishes. After some time passes, Mr. Greenleaf considers the mission a failure and cuts Tom off. However, he will need all his conman abilities to keep afloat.

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Plot Keywords:

anti hero | class differences | vacation | betrayal | corpse | 

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Taglines:

Passion at ten. Envy at eleven. Murder at noon.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for momentary violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French Italian English

Release Date:

10 March 1960 (France)

Also Known As:

Lust for Evil

Filming Locations:

Maronti Beach, Sant'Angelo, Ischia Island, Naples, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Gross USA:

$618,090

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert et Raymond Hakim, Paris Film, Paritalia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa # 64713 delivered on 7-3-1963.

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Goofs

Alain Delon's belt goes over the middle belt loop on the back of his white Levis about eight minutes into the film. A couple of minutes later, the belt goes through the loop, though the action was continuous, with no possibility of him having removed his belt to correct this fashion fumble.

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Quotes

Tom Ripley: That'd be naughty of you.

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Connections

Referenced in Diakopes sto Vietnam (1971)

User Reviews

An Excellent European Thriller

Tom Ripley is the poor friend of the wealthy and arrogant Philippe Greenleaf who spends his time sailing on the Mediterranean sea's coasts of Italy in his magnificent vessel. Philippe enjoys himself by humiliating Tom whenever he can and making him feel the power that money brings. Tom envies his friend's easy life and also his pretty girlfriend Marge Duval who sails along with them and finally he kills Philippe and takes his place as a rich man by achieving the sinister and carefully plan he has developed with such purpose. Things get complicated for the killer from then on but he manages to go on with his profitable impersonation and sentimental approach to the dead man's girlfriend.

The film is skilfully handled by director René Clement and interest doesn't fall till the end, the colorful and beautiful Italian coast on the Mediterranean sea brings a great background to the story and the final sequence when Tom's perfect plan is spoiled is excellent and memorable.

Alain Delon renders one of his best performances ever as the resentful and no scruples Tom, well supported by Maurice Ronnet as Philippe and Marie Laforet as Marge. These are the characters the whole plot is about and the rest of the cast is there just for need.

Most entertaining and made with intelligence, this is thriller to see. An 8 out of 10 to me.