Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley is a great movies criminal, and this Plein Soleil is famous most of all for bringing to world wide exposure Alain Delon in his first complex and dark role as the criminal later played by such followers as Matt Damon or John Malkovich. The whole story of a friendship that becomes murder turns around Delon's acting and he is superb, then a rising star at the start of a decade of great acting. Marie Laforet at her debut matches well Delon as his romantic interest and partial motive of murder. It is probably the best film of director Rene Clement together maybe with 'La Belle et la Bette' where he seconded Jean Cocteau who was the sole credited for directing. His cinema work is stylish and full of light, contrasting with the dark theme. All has a very modern and contemporary look, and the film does not look at all as an almost half century old production. The acting of the supporting team is however below the level of the stars. A lot has been said about the ending which is changed from the original ending in the novel - it tends to be somehow moralistic but it also includes a thrilling surprise and I actually liked it.
Review of Purple Noon
