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About the Film
Director: René Clément
Actors: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt
The film stars Alain Delon as Tom Ripley, a duplicitous American charmer, talented mimic, moocher, forger and all-around criminal improviser. Tom is sent to Europe by Mr. Greenleaf to fetch his spoiled, playboy son Philippe, and bring him back home to the States. In an unexpected twist, Tom, in desperation, kills Philippe, assumes his identity, and lives the life of a rich playboy. However, he will need all his conman abilities to keep Philippe's friends and the police off the trail.
Praise
The film won Best Foreign Film at the 1962 Edgar Allan Poe Awards.René Clément's subversive direction makes us root for Delon to pull off a tricky tightrope disguise as suspicious police pursue him from hotel to apartment and town to town.– Mike Clark, USA Today
Delon is a terrifically good in the role: his almost unearthly perfection is creepy itself, as if he is imitating a human being.– Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
About the Director
Born March 18, 1913 in Bordeaux, France, René Clément was one of the leading French directors of the post-World War II era. He directed what are regarded as some of the greatest films of the time, such as The Battle of the Rails (1946), Forbidden Games (1952), Purple Moon (1960) and The Day and the Hour (1963).Above: ©Miramax
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