I can't remember when I saw the rerun of the Alain Delon's The talented ripely on TV when the 1999 version come out. The Alain Delon's was a great movie I ever see. I was very young to see that movie...at a time there wasn't MPAA I guess. I believe it was a time that my parents not allow me to watch TV at late night. And I have to go sleep first and get up when everybody is in sleep.
So I can remember vividly about the movie when I saw the preview of Matt Demon as Mr. Ripely . However I couldn't find any among my friends that knows about the 1960 version.....The year is quite before we were born. I couldn't even remember the actor's name was 亞蘭德倫 ...of course I don't know 亞蘭德倫 is Alain Delon in English and no way to discuss it with my English speaking friend/ coworkers. But anyhow tonight I get them all.
The following is from Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plein_Soleil
Delon plays Tom Ripley, who claims to have been sent to Italy to persuade his wealthy friend, Philippe Greenleaf (played by Maurice Ronet), to return to San Francisco 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 Lafor?t) 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 strands Tom on a rescue boat, leaving him to lie in the sun for hours.
Back on board, Philippe has suspicions and starts confronting Tom with a potential plan to kill Philippe and assume his identity. Once Marge goes ashore, Philippe confronts him again and the two casually discuss the plan. Philippe attempts to placate Tom by deliberately losing at poker. Leaving his guard down for Tom to stab him to death and throw the body overboard. It is not known when Tom concocted the plan.
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.
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 the Police just after the discovery; it is assumed he will be arrested.
[edit] Acclaim, authenticity, and influence
Plein Soleil was heralded by critics and made Delon a star. In 1962, Cl?ment and Paul G?gauff won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Foreign Film Screenplay. It has a loyal following even today, including film director Martin Scorsese.
The movie has been cited as similar to Highsmith's novel in tone, style, and especially in the characterization of Tom Ripley. Out of all the actors who have played Ripley in movie adaptations of books in Highsmith's "Ripliad" series, critics, including Highsmith herself, have called Delon's characterization the closest to her version of the character: a charismatic psychopath who lies, manipulates and kills without an ounce of remorse. As in the book, it is implied (although never stated) that he has sexual feelings for Greenleaf, and is not so much interested in Greenleaf's money as he is in being him. There are differences in plot, however; most importantly, Ripley does not get caught in the novel, escaping the police to live a life of luxury and crime (as portrayed in the book's four sequels.) Also, in the book, Greenleaf's first name is Dickie, not Philippe, and Marge is merely a friend with whom he has a casual sexual relationship, and who detests Tom and never falls for him.
In the novel, Marge is frumpy (described as having a "gourdlike figure") and insecure, and may be one in a line of Greenleaf's meaningless flings. As portrayed by Marie Leforet in Plein Soleil, she is a more compatible counterpoint to Greenleaf, and both film versions of the novel suggest in several scenes that Greenleaf's feelings for her are genuine.
In 1999, director Anthony Minghella remade Plein Soleil as The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon as Ripley, Jude Law as Greenleaf, and Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge.
