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.

Related Topics:
1960 - Movie - René Clément - The Talented Mr. Ripley - Patricia Highsmith - Alain Delon

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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.

Related Topics:
Tom Ripley - Italy - France - Boating - Assume his identity

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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.

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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.

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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.

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