The Quiet American
2002
Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for the London Times, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), has been working in Vietnam, covering politics and enjoying the local culture. He .. Read more
| Starring | Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Serbedzija |
|---|---|
| Director | Phillip Noyce |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Quiet American
Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for the London Times, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), has been working in Vietnam, covering politics and enjoying the local culture. He lives with a beautiful young woman, Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), a taxi dancer who he rescued from that undesirable profession. He cannot marry her, because he is already married to a Catholic woman in London who does not believe in divorce. But he truly loves her. When a young American doctor, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), falls in love with Phuong, threatening to take her from Fowler, everything changes. Not only is Fowler's romantic life put in danger, but he begins to uncover disturbing information about the U.S.'s involvement in the war.
An intriguing and atmospheric love story as well as a riveting mystery, THE QUIET AMERICAN features top-notch performances from Caine and Fraser, who maintain an eager intensity throughout the film. Combining the mysterious beauty of Saigon with the strangeness of the war, the film is suspenseful and effective.
| Starring | Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Serbedzija |
|---|---|
| Director | Phillip Noyce |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 36 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | Anthony Minghella Collection |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 19 May 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Graham Greene's classic 1955 novel — about the political rumblings in Indo-China that would eventually lead to the Vietnam War — gets a more faithful, elegant and resonant adaptation in director Phillip Noyce's version than in the abridged 1958 film, starring Audie Murphy. A love triangle between disillusioned journalist Michael Caine (a commanding, yet beautifully restrained performance), mysterious American aid worker Brendan Fraser and young Vietnamese woman Do Thi Hai Yen is all the narrative hook Noyce needs to explore the complex issues surrounding Vietnam's fight for independence from French colonial rule, and make it a powerful and provocative drama. Although the aftermath of a terrorist attack too strongly recalls scenes in The Killing Fields, and Fraser can't match Caine for subtlety, it's a remarkably penetrating and vivid account of the naivety and blunderings of US foreign policy.
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True to the spirit of Greene's novel, one that seems to have become more than ever relevant, this film superbly captures its account of political and personal betrayal, the danger of do-gooders and the corruption of spirit that weariness with the world ca
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Most helpful member's review
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35 out of 39 people found this review helpful
Quiet American
I came to this film as a fan of both Graham Greene and Michael Caine. The screenplay is a very faithful adaptation of the novel, and the characterisation and settings are excellent. The Vietnamese scenery is stunning throughout, the mud-blasted hell of Phat Diem contrasting vividly with the polite finesse of French-Colonial Saigon. Caine dominates the picture with a mighty but human performance as Fowler, the journalist desperately trying to cling on to his relationship with young Vietnamese beauty Phuong (played by the lovely Do Thi Hai Yen). Into their world comes the quiet American, Aiden Pyle, played in a suitably underhand manner by a chubby Brendan Fraser.
The film is well-paced and the "action" sequences are very well done, particularly the infamous bombing in the square which is recreated with frightening realism. I found it all totally gripping, even though I knew the plot and the outcome. The scenes between Caine and Fraser show these two at their very best, Caine surely at yet another high in his career. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
good movie
it is a good movie but you have to have a patience to see it to the middle of the film, then after that it becomes much more attractive.
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Set in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1952 during the French Indochina war, THE QUIET AMERICAN is based on the mystery story by Graham Greene, and directed by Phillip Noyce. A middle-aged British reporter for ... -