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:

Was there ever a stranger find? A more damaging, insolent loner? A story more diabolique?

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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

John Malkovich remarked in an interview with the BBC that he came close to directing The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and that he was in negotiations to obtain the rights to direct a remake of the first "Talented Mr Ripley" adaptation, "Plein Soleil." Malkovich later played Tom Ripley in Ripley's Game (2002).

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Goofs

While sitting in a hotel room, Tom takes an envelope and licks it before putting it in his coat pocket. However, he never sealed the envelope and left the flap open.

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Quotes

Philippe Greenleaf: Why bother having money when you can spend other people's?

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Connections

Referenced in Diakopes sto Vietnam (1971)

User Reviews

Terrific version of the Patricia Highsmith novel

Extremely well done, tightly edited, well acted (by everyone, including the small roles, especially the actor who has to appear dead with long camera shots in a tense scene in the hotel). Delon is perfectly cast, with his calculating cool.

The cinematography is gorgeous, especially the scenes on the yacht---nothing gimmicky, but shot with an expertise that gives true drama to the action. You can feel the waves, the wind, and the sun. The colors are vibrant on the DVD. Though a scene like this in a typical movie today would include a heavy ominous score, the director simply lets the sound of the wind create the tension. The score (by Nina Rota), in fact, is understated, unlike anything today. Even the opening credits have style.