(1960; Plein Soleil, French w/English dubbing) Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Talented Mr Ripley, and later remade into an American movie with the book's title, director and co-adapter René Clément creates in his cinema, employing Nino Rotta's score and shot in realistic locations, a crime thriller of mounting (with a hint of the homoerotic) tension.

An uncanny American con-artist, Tom Ripley (Alain Delon), has latched onto Philippe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet), the son of a wealthy San Franciscan, whose father has offered to pay Tom $5,000 if he will bring Philippe back to the USA. In Rome Philippe's friend Freddy Miles (Bill Kearns) dislikes Tom, but he invites both young men to visit him in Taormina. Before setting off in Philippe's yacht from Mongibello, Tom receives word from Philippe's father that the mission apparently is a failure, terminating their agreement.

Along with Philippe's fiancée, Marge Duval (Marie Laforêt), they set sail for Taormina. Wanting to be alone with Marge, Philippe (who tells her that Tom has invented his claim of being a childhood chum) tricks Tom into getting in the dingy and then letting the rope run out, the yacht towing an exiled Tom; but while Philippe's below deck with Marge, the rope (and a joke taken too far) snaps.

After going back to rescue Tom (suffering from a severe sunburn), Philippe finds his bank statements among Tom's things; Tom plants an earring he pocketed from a woman in Rome into Philippe's jacket pocket and says to Marge: "You're in love with the Philippe of your imagination." When she discovers the earring and raises suspicions of his unfaithfulness, Philippe hurls the manuscript she's been writing about the artist Fra Angelico into the sea; "Put me ashore," she demands.

Casually with curiosity Philippe discusses with Tom how his own murder might occur. Seeking out Marge ("You've changed too") in Mongibello, Tom confirms that Philippe won't be coming back to her, though he acts as their go-between. After putting the yacht up for sale, Tom returns to Rome where he fixes his passport, practices writing Philippe's signature, composes correspondence on Philippe's typewriter, and appropriates his wardrobe, taking on the rich man's identity.

Leaving the hotel when people arrive looking for Philippe who could expose Tom's deceit, Mr Ripley moves into an apartment only to have Freddy show up unexpectedly. "They'll pin this on Philippe," Tom thinks: "I have nothing to do with it." After withdrawing most of Philippe's funds from his bank account (ten million lira at 615 lira to the dollar), Tom confidently answers the questions posed by Inspector Riccordi (Erno Crisa), assuring him that while Philippe was a lady-killer, he was not a murderer.

Of the conclusion, Ms Highsmith complained of it's being "a terrible concession to so-called public morality." It's certainly surprising.

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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