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A member of the middle generation of French filmmakers between Renoir and the New Wave, René Clément was a strong visual stylist who tried on different subjects and genres: documentaries, semidocumentaries, wartime dramas, comedies. In Purple Noon he showed a strong facility for feverish film noir, and the results are quite memorable. Based on Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley, the film stars Alain Delon as the notoriously amoral Ripley (a character also played, albeit quite differently, by Dennis Hopper in Wim Wenders's The American Friend). Envious of a playboy pal (Maurice Ronet) having a luxurious time on the Mediterranean, Ripley decides to murder the man and assume his identity. The subsequent suspense concerns the dirty deed done and the aftermath of complicated cover-ups, and in the best Hitchcockian sense you can never quite tell whose side you're on as Ripley's efforts at survival are followed in meticulous detail. Mesmerizing to watch, saturated in light and color, and topped by Delon at his most icy, Purple Noon is a terrific discovery for enthusiasts of film noir and the French cinema. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Ella Amyot
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wonderful film with very handsome Alain Delon, being an earlier version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" with Matt Damon, who was excellent as well each giving their own take on the part.
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Criterion has done a magnificent job in remastering the film, truly bringing it back to life. The cinematography, writing and acting stand up superbly on their own, as well as in comparison to Anthony Minghella's more recent "The Talented Mr. Ripley". Except for the ending, the earlier film is closer overall to Highsmith's novel and she was on record as approving Alain Delon's Tom Ripley. Now, it would be great if Criterion would do the same for Mingella's film, still available in North America only on the 2000 DVD release (Blu-rays in UK and Japan have had poor reviews, in terms of their technical quality.)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By mackjay
Format:DVD
Many comparisons can be made between "Plein Soleil"(better translated as "Broad Daylight" than "Purple Noon") and "The Talented Mr. Ripley". They are both good films, with incredibly intriguing story lines and fine performances. The cinematography in both films is superb as well. The more recent version does look better, technically, but the Clement film is very pleasing to the eye, not just for the scenery, but for the incredible beauty of the young Alain Delon.
This is not really a 'great' film--it's really just about the intrigue, and it fascinates the viewer by forcing identification with a nefarious protagonist--but it is mighty entertaining.
This is not really a 'great' film--it's really just about the intrigue, and it fascinates the viewer by forcing identification with a nefarious protagonist--but it is mighty entertaining.
The Miramax DVD is something of a disappointment. Apart from some flashing in several scenes, the film transfer looks mostly very good. There is some distortion in the mono soundtrack, which unfortunately mars Rota's lovely score. Yet, there is at least one moment when everything works together beautifully: for instance the non-dialogue scene where Tom Ripley looks over an outdoor fish market in Naples--the colors, Delon's face and the music combine for five minutes of cinematic magic.
The DVD is also a letdown in terms of features: there are three skimpy trailers, NOT including one for "Plein Soleil". The English subtitles must be turned on, they are not automatic, AND the French-language soundtrack must be selected from the setup menu, otherwise the disc defaults to the inferior English-dubbed version.
Still worth having for an enjoyable movie
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Catch Me If You Can...
....fans of the stories of master improvisionist Tom Ripley will truly love this inspired piece of French cinema filmed in the sixties. Read more
Published on July 19 2004 by yygsgsdrassil
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the top notch film noir ever filmed
If I had to give my personal list of the ten greatest film noir ever, this one would be one of them.
Delon reached one of his peaks as actor with this one. Read more
Delon reached one of his peaks as actor with this one. Read more
Published on May 28 2004 by Hiram Gomez Pardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
MIDDAY SUN and just a touch of HEAT.
DELON's 'heat' that is - what a debut, and what eyes, face and smile! One almost wants him to get away with this one - and maybe he does ... Read more
Published on April 11 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
HYPNOTIC FRENCH NOIR
The French title Plein Soliel has been translated PURPLE NOON (Miramax), but "broad daylight" is more accurate. Read more
Published on Sep 3 2003 by Robin Simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better, best!
This version is so much a better movie than the dreary 'Talented Mr Ripley', no wonder it was never mentioned! Read more
Published on Jan 7 2003 by Howard A. Phillips
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rene Clement's Purple Noon
This film came out almost forty years before Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley," but age has not worn down its value. Read more
Published on May 29 2002 by Charles Tatum
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lousy DVD from Disney
No problems with the film itself, I saw the theatrical release several years ago, and loved it. I refuse to buy the lame excuse for a DVD that Buena Vista has offered. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2002 by Geoffrey P. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
a beautiful thriller
Beautiful cinematography, beautiful music and beautiful Alain Delon in his early 20's. It is a murder + suspense movie, but the talented French moviemen did such a beautiful job... Read more
Published on Jan 25 2002
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Ripley" was better...
I saw "Talented Mr Ripley" first, then read the book, then saw "Purple Noon." I think "Ripley" was much more faithful to the book, much better-acted... Read more
Published on Jan 19 2002 by Ian N.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre Movie
By now, everyone has summarized the story, so I'm not going to cover the same ground. Instead, the points that cause me to take off two stars from this movie: (1) The movie starts... Read more
Published on Dec 25 2001 by T. Schmitt
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