Here’s a film whose story we already know as we’ve watched the more recent American adaptation The Talented Mr. Ripley some years back. I judged this far earlier French adaptation, made only a few years after the publication of the Patricia Highsmith novel, worth watching anyway as it’s very well known and it was the film that turned Alain Delon into a star. It also helps that this version differs markedly from the American film which I believe is more faithful to the source material. This version is in some ways more traditional, both in Ripley’s motivations and in its ultimate resolution. In my opinion, that makes it less psychologically interesting but there are still good reasons to watch it.
The wealthy Philippe Greenleaf is enjoying himself in Italy so his father hires Tom Ripley, a supposed childhood friend, to persuade him to return to America. Phillippe has no such intention and so the two enjoy life spending his family’s wealth, occasionally accompanied by his fiancée Marge. Phillipe starts to be wary of Tom when he catches the other man pretending to be himself in front of a mirror and begins to find his company tiresome. While on a yachting trip together, Tom engineers an argument between the two lovers which leads to Marge leaving. He then kills Philippe with a knife after telling him how he plans to impersonate him to use his money. After returning on land, he proceeds to do exactly that, using his typewriter to write letters, learning to forge his signature and copying his voice on the telephone. When a rich friend of Philippe, Freddie comes to visit and begins to be suspicious, Tom murders him as well. He then changes strategy to arrange for Philippe to be blamed for Freddie’s death.
The broad strokes of the story are the same even if the endings are different. But a more important difference lies in Tom Ripley’s character and motivations. The initial murder here is premeditated and Tom has already planned out what to do afterwards. There is also no hint that Tom is himself attracted to Philippe. Instead it is Marge he wants as part of the luxurious life that Philippe leads. That’s why my opinion is that this film is less psychologically complex and more traditional in its values. In the newer film and I believe in the novel itself, Tom and Marge actually bond with each other over their shared fears that the fickle Philippe will abandon them both. This film has Tom being completely ruthless and greedy. He may also display a certain evil charm but it’s hard to say that the audience is meant to sympathize with him here. It seems to me that the whole point of the Tom Ripley character is that he may be a rogue, yet the reader roots for him anyway. The ending here makes sense in this context as there is no way you could let someone the audience detests so much get away with the crime. One thing I did find interesting is Philippe who knows very well that Tom is an imposter, yet finds it amusing to play along anyway. He doesn’t even seem to take precautions as Tom lays out his murder plan. I suppose he is just so accustomed to a privileged life that the thought of actual danger doesn’t seem real to him.
It’s undeniable that Alain Delon has far better screen presence than Matt Damon and Marie Laforêt who plays Marge here has an ethereal quality to her beauty. The fact that this was actually shot in the correct time period and in Italy makes it feel more authentic. As for the plot, this kind of impersonation seems impossible to pull off in the modern era. The fact that Tom actively sets out to seduce Marge as part of his plan makes this version much more malevolent and makes this film feel more like a serial killer thriller. Overall it’s such a beautiful and atmospheric film. On the other hand, the characters are all supposed to be Americans and most of these actors manifestly are not. It seems to me that they should have changed the script to make Philippe a rich European aristocrat instead.
On balance I think the American film makes for a more interesting Tom Ripley and is arguably truer to the spirit of the novel. This one however is more beautiful and the classical European vibes are just better. Both are worth watching but I suspect that while I personally prefer the American film, this is the one that will be remembered in history due to Delon’s presence and its artistic cinematography.