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Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave) is an embittered British journalist working in Vietnam (then Indochina), covering the political situation. A man known for his professional objectivity and honesty, Fowler’s personal life is a fiasco. Involved with a local woman, Phuong, whom he loves, Fowler is married to a strictly religious woman back in England who refuses to divorce him. Into their lives steps an enigmatic American man who hopes to rally the people of Indochina to become a third force and challenge the factions that seek to over-determine their lives. The American man falls for Phuong, and asks only that Phuong be given the opportunity to choose between the men and (like Indochina), resolve her destiny. In danger of losing Phuong to the American, Fowler is drawn into a suspicious and venomous state, convinced that the American is supplying explosives to non-Communist troops. “The Quiet American” leaves the more contentious political elements of Graham Greene’s novel to languish in favour of highlighting the personal grief of a middle-aged man in crisis. Redgrave is impressive as Fowler, whose voice-over narration relays comprehension of his fate, and his disastrous attempt to fight it. Remade in 2002 by Phillip Noyce.
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Stream, rent or buy via
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
317380
Language
English
Audience classification
PG
Subject categories
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Vietnam
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers → Detective and mystery films
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers → Thrillers
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Murder
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Americans in Vietnam
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Imperialism
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Vietnam - Economic conditions
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Vietnam - Social Conditions
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)