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Although most 'Nam War film lists begin with John Wayne's "The Green Berets" (1969), there was actually a cycle of dramas - from "Saigon" (1948) to "The Ugly American" (1963) - that were set in the region during the years before American troops arrived. Based on the novel by Graham Greene, "The Quiet American" is one of these pre-war movies. It's a political thriller that combines a passionate love triangle with some cloak-and-dagger intrigue and a prescient grasp of the dangers that Vietnam would bring America.
When an idealistic young American (Murphy) arrives in Saigon, his presence causes all kinds of rumours. Is he a spy, a philanthropist, or just another Yankee businessman? British war correspondent Fowler (Redgrave) doesn't know for certain, but the American's talk of a "third force" that will offer the Vietnamese the right to choose between French colonial rule and Communism sounds suspect. Even more worrying, though, is his interest in Fowler's Vietnamese girlfriend Phuong (Hai Yen Do) who he's quite openly making a play for.
While Graham Greene was annoyed by the way in which Hollywood had downplayed the novel's cynicism, "The Quiet American" is still a considerably more challenging movie than one might expect. There's some wonderfully witty banter between Redgrave's world-weary cynic and Murphy's na茂ve idealist, some evocative location shooting and an underlying fatalism that gives the production quite an edge - one that not even the talky script can blunt.
With a stunning performance from Redgrave whose dry British wit is an absolute delight and a downbeat love story that owes more than a nod to "Casablanca", "The Quiet American" is a deftly adult film. Here's betting that the soon-to-be-released remake starring Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser won't even come close to capturing its dark and moody feel.
