The Quiet American (1958)

Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz | 120 minutes | drama, thriller, war, romance | Actors: Audie Murphy, Michael Redgrave, Claude Dauphin, Giorgia Moll, Bruce Cabot, Fred Sadoff, Kerima, Richard Loo, Peter Trent, Clinton Anderson

When Graham Greene’s novel The Quiet American was published in 1955, you could wait for a film adaptation. The story, set in Vietnam and dealing with love, betrayal, friendship and loyalty, has all the ingredients for a beautiful adaptation. The experienced Joseph L. Mankiewicz took care of the novel in 1958. However, the result was so disappointing that the writer furiously distanced himself from the film.

‘The Quiet American’ is about the complicated love triangle between the elderly English journalist Fowler, his youthful Vietnamese mistress Phuong and the young American Pyle (who remains nameless in this adaptation). In Vietnam, the French are fighting communists and a third power threatens to get involved. While Fowler wonders how much Pyle is involved in that third power, the young American falls in love with Phuong. That is the beginning of a series of tragic events.

Out of necessity, director Mankiewicz had to change the story rigorously. That had everything to do with the time when The Quiet American was made into a movie. Communists were evil by definition, and Americans wanted the best for the world, at least in their own eyes. But by changing the story, the theme also changed. Instead of a layered relationship drama, it now became a simple political thriller including half-baked morals. The tension was also violated, as the film continues for half an hour where the book has long stopped.

Another big minus is the casting. The Italian Giorgia Moll is completely ridiculous as Phuong. The inner strength and phlegm of the Vietnamese are nowhere to be seen and this Phuong looks like a European in carnival costume. Audie Murphy is also out of place here. The American he portrays is anything but quiet and he looks way too old for this role. Against this are the excellent acting of Michael Redgrave, the razor-sharp dialogues and the tension of the first hour, if the novel is still followed reasonably well.

Just how mediocre this film adaptation of ‘The Quiet American’ really was became apparent in 2002 when Phillip Noyce came up with a beautiful new adaptation. This later adaptation proved once again that you just have to respect a brilliant story. Too bad Mankiewizc was too constrained by the constraints of his time to keep to it.