☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece
Plein Soleil - Purple Noon (1960) is a disturbing, engrossing and enjoyable portrait of a sociopath's nepotism and fantasies.
Directed by René Clément from a Patricia Highsmith novel called The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Starring Alain Delon, Marie Laforêt and Maurice Ronet among many others.
If you are a fan of Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley and haven't seen René Clément's original version order it immediately. The ending strays from Highsmith's powerful ending, but stays close enough to keep it mesmerizing from beginning to end. René creates a taunt thriller with his beautiful camera work that is surpassed by strong performances from his entire cast.
Alain runs away with the film with his subtle, psychotic, seductive and disturbing performance. Delon as an actor is in a class by himself. Alain's performance reminds me of Peter O'Toole in Sir David Lean's, Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Both Delon and O'Toole have not only magnetic personalities and looks that camera loves, but they can bring out the hidden subtext in their characters unspoken dialogue. Delon is like Meryl Streep in that they not only intuitively bring out the hidden desires of their characters, but more importantly they never judge their characters actions or desires. The characters desires are a part of him and he relishes them as much as his character does. The scene below is hypnotic in that Alain is completely dissolved into his characters nepotism and fantasies. Delon manages to have his character create a human being for others that he thinks they will admire, ogle and desire as much as he does.
Trivia - Author Patricia Highsmith, said of the ending; "A terrible concession to the so-called public morality." She was very pleased with Alain Delon performance and the overall look of the film.
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