Movies - Plein Soleil

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	Movies - Plein Soleil

Plein Soleil (Purple Noon) is a 1960 movie directed by René Clément, based on The Talented Mr. Ripley
by Patricia Highsmith, and starring Alain Delon in his first major movie.

Delon plays Tom Ripley, who has been sent to Italy to persuade his wealthy friend, Philippe Greenleaf (played by Maurice Ronet), to return to France and run his father's business. As Philippe intends to do no such thing and Tom, who is poor, enjoys living La Dolce Vita, the two essentially spend money all day and carouse all night, occasionally hanging out with Philippe's put-upon girlfriend Marge (played by Marie Laforêt) Tom has something of a crush on Philippe, wanting his life, girlfriend, and confident, cocky personality for himself. The spoiled, arrogant Philippe soon grows tired of his friend's fawning, however, and becomes cruel and abusive to him; the last straw is when, during a boating trip, Philippe cuts Tom adrift, leaving him wet and sunburned for hours. It's then that Tom concocts a plan to kill Philippe and assume his identity.

Back on board, Tom waits until Marge goes ashore and confronts Philippe, quite casually, about his plan. Philippe, thinking it a joke, plays along, leaving his guard down for Tom to stab him to death and throw the body overboard.

Upon returning, Tom tells Marge that Philippe decided to stay behind, and goes traveling around the country using Philippe's name and money, and even affecting his manner and voice; in effect, he becomes Philippe.

When Tom murders Philippe's suspicious friend, Freddie Miles, and the police inevitably get involved, he keeps playing at his charade, switching between being himself and being Philippe, depending on what the situation demands, and almost getting caught many times. By the end, Tom thinks he has outwitted everybody, and has even begun to seduce Marge—when Philippe's body is found, tangled in his boat's anchor. The last shot is of Tom walking toward Marge just after the discovery; it is assumed he will be arrested.

Acclaim, Authenticity, and Influence

Plein Soleil was heralded by critics and made Delon a star. It has a loyal following even today, including film director Martin Scorsese.

The movie has been cited as similar to Highsmith's novel in tone, style, and especially in the characterization of Tom Ripley. Out of all the actors who have played Ripley in movie adaptations of books in Highsmith's "Ripliad" series, critics, including Highsmith herself, have called Delon's characterization the closest to her version of the character: a charismatic psychopath who lies, manipulates and kills without an ounce of remorse.

As in the book, it is implied (although never stated) that he has sexual feelings for Greenleaf, and is not so much interested in Greenleaf's money as he is in being him. There are differences in plot, however; most importantly, Ripley does not get caught in the novel, escaping the police to live a life of luxury and crime. Also, in the book, Greenleaf's first name is Dickie, not Philippe, and Marge is merely a friend with whom he has a casual sexual relationship, and who detests Tom and never falls for him.

In 1999, director Anthony Minghella remade Plein Soleil as The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon as Ripley, Jude Law as Greenleaf, and Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge. This version of the story cast Ripley in a somewhat more sympathetic light, making Greenleaf's murder a crime of passion rather than coldbloodedly planned-out. It also brought out of subtext his sexual attraction to Greenleaf, and added two characters not featured in the novel, used mostly as plot devices.

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