The Quiet American

Play trailer

The Quiet American

1958

2h 0m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

During the 1950s, Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave) is a British journalist stationed in Vietnam to cover the growing unrest. While in the country, he begins an extramarital affair with a beautiful young Vietnamese woman, Phuong (Giorgia Moll). However, their romance is interrupted by Alden Pyle (Audie Murphy), an idealistic American economist in Vietnam on an aid mission. When Pyle proposes to Phuong, Fowler accuses him of secretly dealing weapons.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

11/08/2021

2.5/4

Michael Redgrave's performance is the best thing about this thematically compromised piece.

Go to Full Review

Jean-Luc Godard

Arts (France)

09/16/2021

Mankiewicz probably got so much enjoyment from the writing that there was little enough left for filming it. Though a matter for regret, The Quiet American is still the most interesting film about at the moment.

Go to Full Review

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

07/22/2011

B+

Mankiewicz (who also wrote the adapted screenplay) does a fine job balancing romance, intrigue and war.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

03/26/2008

C

One of Mankiewicz's weaker films, a verbose, disappointingly sanitized version of Graham Greene's cynical novel about American involvement in Indo-China, with mediocre turns by Murphy and Redgrave.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

04/21/2003

C+

The Quiet American is loosely adapted from Graham Greene's penetrating 1956 book about the Indo-China War.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jelisije J

Aug 9

The story being told was highly criticized by the author of the book himself and that being said the twist and the differences works enough for me to consider this film a hidden gem.

See more

bill k

12/30/2017

An "American slant" on the French colonial occupation. Read the book instead. Audie Murphy isn't a very good actor. Redgrave is wonderful.

See more

11/12/2016

Wordy. If only Audie Murphy had been allowed to be actually romantic! No-one in this film shows any genuine feelings of affection. Make that, any genuine feelings full-stop!

See more

04/23/2016

Outstanding. MUST WATCH. Caine is spell binding. Fraser does well to keep up. Greene at this best.

See more

07/25/2013

Mankiewicz (who also wrote the adapted screenplay) does a fine job balancing romance, intrigue and war.

See more

05/07/2013

one-dimensional characters, and is too ominous for all its ambition.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Director

Audie Murphy

The American

Michael Redgrave

Thomas Fowler

Claude Dauphin

Inspector Vigot

Giorgia Moll

Phuong

Kerima

Phuong's Sister

The World of Suzie Wong

33%

68%

The World of Suzie Wong

Watchlist

Separate Tables

68%

76%

Separate Tables

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Separate Tables

Weddings and Babies

92%

50%

Weddings and Babies

Watchlist

Some Came Running

78%

75%

Some Came Running

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Some Came Running

Jet Pilot

67%

42%

Jet Pilot

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

During the 1950s, Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave) is a British journalist stationed in Vietnam to cover the growing unrest. While in the country, he begins an extramarital affair with a beautiful young Vietnamese woman, Phuong (Giorgia Moll). However, their romance is interrupted by Alden Pyle (Audie Murphy), an idealistic American economist in Vietnam on an aid mission. When Pyle proposes to Phuong, Fowler accuses him of secretly dealing weapons.

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Producer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Production Co: Figaro Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1958, Limited
Runtime: 2h 0m

Most Popular at Home Now