The American Friend
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| Der Amerikanische Freund | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Wim Wenders |
| Written by | Patricia Highsmith (novel Ripley's Game) Wim Wenders |
| Starring | Dennis Hopper Bruno Ganz |
| Release date(s) | June 24, 1977 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 127 minutes |
| Language | German English |
| Budget | DEM 3,000,000 (estimated) |
The American Friend (German: Der Amerikanische Freund) is a 1977 film by Wim Wenders, loosely adapted from the novel Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith. The film is of the neo-noir genre, and features Dennis Hopper as career criminal Tom Ripley and Bruno Ganz as Jonathan Zimmermann, a terminally ill picture framer whom Ripley coerces into becoming an assassin.
Though primarily based on Ripley's Game, the film also uses elements, uncredited, of Ripley Under Ground, which was later adapted to film in 2005.[1]
The source novel Ripley's Game (1974) was cinematically adapted a second time as Ripley's Game (2002).
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[edit] Critical reaction
In A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir, David N. Meyer says, "Though the plot may not make a whole lot of sense the first time around — and the thick European accents of a couple of the major actors doesn't help — The American Friend is worth the effort. Few movies from any era or genre offer such rich characters, realistic human relationships, gripping action sequences, or sly humor." [2] The film was also entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.[3]
Roger Ebert gave the film three stars (out of four), writing: "[Wenders] challenges us to admit that we watch (and read) thrillers as much for atmosphere as for plot. And then he gives us so much atmosphere we're almost swimming in it."[4]
Highsmith herself complimented the film's "stylishness".[1] She initially disliked Hopper's Ripley but later changed her mind, feeling that he had perfectly captured the soul and essence of the character.[5]
[edit] Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dennis Hopper | Tom Ripley |
| Bruno Ganz | Jonathan Zimmermann |
| Lisa Kreuzer | Marianne Zimmermann |
| Gérard Blain | Raoul Minot |
| Nicholas Ray | Derwatt |
| Samuel Fuller | The American Mobster |
| David Blue | Allan Winter |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Gerald Peary - interviews - Patricia Highsmith
- ^ David M. Meyer (1998). A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video. Avon Books. ISBN 0-380-79067-X.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: The American Friend". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2013/year/1977.html. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ The American Friend :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
- ^ The American Friend DVD - Commentary by Wim Wenders, Dennis Hopper - Starz / Anchor Bay, 2003
[edit] External links
- Der Amerikanische Freund at the Internet Movie Database
- Two Faces of Ripley, filmbrain.com comparison of The American Friend and Ripley's Game
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