The Quiet American (2002)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers (WGA):

Graham Greene (novel)
Christopher Hampton (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Romance | War

Tagline:

In war, the most powerful weapon is seduction.

Plot:

An older British reporter vies against a young American for the affections of a Vietnamese beauty.

Plot Keywords:

Saigon | Vietnam | Journalist | Murder | Love Triangle

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Thomas Fowler
Brendan Fraser	...	Alden Pyle
Do Thi Hai Yen	...	Phuong
Rade Serbedzija	...	Inspector Vigot (as Rade Sherbedgia)
Tzi Ma	...	Hinh
Robert Stanton	...	Joe Tunney
Holmes Osborne	...	Bill Granger
Quang Hai	...	General Thé
Ferdinand Hoang	...	Mr. Muoi
Pham Thi Mai Hoa	...	Phuong's Sister
Mathias Mlekuz	...	French Captain
Kevin Tran	...	Watch Tower Soldier
Lap Phan	...	Watch Tower Soldier
Tim Bennett	...	American Photographer
Jeff Truman	...	Dancing American
Hong Nhung	...	House of 500 Girls' Singer
Ha Phong Nguyen	...	Muoi's Henchman (as Nguyen Ha Phong)
Navia Nguyen	...	House of 500 Girls' Woman
Lucia Noyce	...	American Woman
Hiliary Douglas	...	American Woman
Daniel Hung	...	Assassin
Kim Hoan Nguyen	...	Assassin
Mai Nguyen Trinh	...	Assassin (as Trinh Mal Nguyen)
Pham Trong	...	Assassin
Tran Do Luc	...	Vietnamese Policeman
Cong Nguyen	...	Vietnamese Guard (as Nguyen Cong Ly)
George Mangos	...	French Soldier
Natasha Hunter	...	French Singer
Martine Monroe	...	French Singer
José De la Vega	...	Hotel Continental Maitre d'
Roland Rohrer	...	Vieux Moulin Maitre d'
Susan Parry	...	French Woman
Anh Dung Nguyen	...	Mechanic in Muoi's Garage (as Nguyen Anh Dung)
Peter Holdsworth	...	Pyle's Bodyguard
Ngoc Tuan Hoang	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Trece Lambatan	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Erwin Abarico	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Jun Javier	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Van Phuoc Nguyen	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Mark Szeto	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Askar Nurlanov	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Douglas Gallagher	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Nicholas Parry	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
Vov Dylan	...	L'arc en Ciel Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Khoa Do	...	Vietnamese Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Phillip Noyce

Writing credits (WGA)
Graham Greene		(novel)
Christopher Hampton		(screenplay) and
Robert Schenkkan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Staffan Ahrenberg	....	producer
Steve E. Andrews	....	associate producer
Antonia Barnard	....	line producer
Moritz Borman	....	executive producer
Matthias Deyle	....	producer: IMF
Guy East	....	executive producer
Oliver Hengst	....	line producer
William Horberg	....	producer
Roland Loubet	....	co-producer
Kathleen McLaughlin	....	co-producer
Anthony Minghella	....	executive producer
Sydney Pollack	....	executive producer
Eyal Rimmon	....	co-producer
Chris Sievernich	....	executive producer
Nigel Sinclair	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Craig Armstrong

Cinematography by
Christopher Doyle

Film Editing by
John Scott

Casting by
Christine King

Production Design by
Roger Ford

Art Direction by
Annie Beauchamp
Ian Gracie		(supervising art director)
Jeffrey Thorp		(as Jeff Thorp)

Set Decoration by
Kerrie Brown
Jennifer Alisa Kornkosar

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Maree McDonald	....	hair stylist
Maree McDonald	....	makeup artist
Anita Morgan	....	hair stylist
Anita Morgan	....	makeup artist
Ben Nye Jr.	....	key makeup artist
Ben Nye Jr.	....	makeup artist: Mr. Fraser
Margaret Stevenson	....	hair styles supervisor
Margaret Stevenson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Caine
Margaret Stevenson	....	makeup supervisor
Cheryl Williams	....	key hair stylist
Nadine Wilkie	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Catherine Bishop	....	unit production manager
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor
Andy Pappas	....	unit manager
Volker Schauz	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director (as Steve Andrews)
Lucy Cooper	....	additional assistant director: Vietnam
Nhat Minh Dang	....	second unit director
China De La Vega	....	additional assistant director: Vietnam
Tran Viet Duc	....	second assistant director: Vietnam
Todd Embling	....	third assistant director
Wilbur Gonzalez	....	additional assistant director: Vietnam
Glen Graves	....	additional assistant director: Vietnam
Jacinta Hayne	....	second assistant director
Du Hai Lam	....	third assistant director: Vietnam
Jennifer Leacey	....	second assistant director: prep
Tran Thi Bich Ngoc	....	second assistant director: Vietnam
Johnny Pacialeo	....	additional assistant director

Art Department
Sean Ahern	....	foreman
Ian Bickerton	....	lead hand
Josh Bush	....	leading hand carpenter
Gary Cameron	....	miniatures
Alex Chomicz	....	art depertment assistant
Richie Dehne	....	property master
Beverley Dunn	....	property buyer
Roger Gillespie	....	plaster foreman
Greg Hajdu	....	construction coordinator
Elaine Kusmishko	....	assistant designer
Marian Long	....	lead set dresser
Simon McCutcheon	....	assistant set decorator
Karyn-Lee 'Lilly' Miyoshi	....	assistant property master
Shanthi Nadaraja	....	construction coordinator
Andy Robinson	....	set finisher
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Ben Walsh	....	graphic artist
Tony Williams	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Christian Bass	....	dialogue editor
David Donaldson	....	sound designer
Diana Flores	....	adr mixer
Mark Franken	....	sound effects editor
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Antony Gray	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Lipson	....	sound effects editor
Linda Murdoch	....	dialogue editor
Andrew Neil	....	re-recording mix assistant
Livia Ruzic	....	dialogue editor
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Guntis Sics	....	production sound mixer
Michael Thompson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gareth Vanderhope	....	sound designer
Gareth Vanderhope	....	sound effects editor
Mark Ward	....	dialogue editor
Andy Wright	....	assistant re-recording mixer (as Andrew Wright)

Special Effects by
Rodney Burke	....	special effects technician
Steve Courtley	....	special effects coordinator
Ray Fowler	....	special effects technician
Richard Georgeson	....	special effects technician
Leo Henry	....	special effects technician
Robert Porter	....	special effects technician
Arthur Spink Jr.	....	special effects technician
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Charlie Armstrong	....	2D visual effects supervisor
Mark Barber	....	digital compositor
Aaron Barclay	....	digital compositor
Niki Bern	....	digital compositor
Dan Breckwoldt	....	Data I/O operator
Fiona Crawford	....	visual effects producer
Jonathan Dixon	....	digital liaison
David Dulac	....	3D supervisor
Craig Fison	....	miniatures
Grant Freckelton	....	matte painter
Morgane Furio	....	Inferno artist
Michael Halford	....	matte painter
Mark Harmon	....	digital grading
Phillip Lang	....	compositor
Kirsty Millar	....	2D visual effects supervisor: Animal Logic
Lisa-Anne Morris	....	visual effects editor
Ken Phelan	....	opticals
Murray Pope	....	visual effects supervisor
Dane Rapaport	....	data operations manager
Robert Sandeman	....	digital grading
George Zwier	....	digital compositor
Ben De Luca	....	systems administrator (uncredited)

Stunts
Marky Lee Campbell	....	stunt performer
Nash Edgerton	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Ashley Fairfield	....	stunt double
Nigel Harbach	....	stunts
Alex Kuzelicki	....	stunts
Rocky McDonald	....	stunt supervisor (as Douglas McDonald)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
David Burr	....	additional photographer
Jasmine Yuen Carrucan	....	second assistant camera
Mark Goellnicht	....	additional Steadicam operator
Lee Mariano	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Brett Matthews	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Matthew Nettheim	....	still photographer
Huu Tuan Nguyen	....	camera operator: second unit
Luke Nixon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Troy Paschini	....	grip
Brad Shield	....	Steadicam operator
Brad Shield	....	director of photography: second unit
Paul Thompson	....	key grip
Anthony Tulloch	....	best boy

Casting Department
Miura Smith	....	casting coordinator: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elly Kamal	....	costume coordinator
Kerry Thompson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kerri Aungle	....	negative cutter
Jason Ballantine	....	first assistant editor
Kirsty Bruce	....	assistant editor
Arthur Cambridge	....	color grader
Olivier Fontenay	....	color grader
Alan Hansen	....	digital colorist
Josie Mason	....	post-production coordinator
Anna McDonnell	....	post-production coordinator
Chris Plummer	....	first assistant editor
Royce Smith	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
David Donaldson	....	music programmer
Matt Dunkley	....	conductor
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Guy Gross	....	composer: additional music
Simon Leadley	....	additional music recordist
Julie Pearce	....	music editor
Christine Woodruff	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
David MacDonald	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Mark Bamford	....	production lawyer
Linda Benjamin	....	executive
Nick Byrne	....	security: Mr. Fraser
Richard Connors	....	location manager: Vietnam
Emma Cooper	....	unit publicist
Jane Corden	....	financial controller
Miranda Culley	....	executive assistant: Mr. Noyce
Kerry Fetzer	....	caterer
Emma Ford	....	personal assistant
Katie Gordon	....	freight coordinator
Jackie Howard	....	assistant choreographer
Shannon Kors	....	executive assistant: Mr. Horberg
Sonia Kruger	....	choreographer
Josie Mason	....	production secretary
Cory McCall	....	executive assistant: Ms. McLaughlin
Anna McDonnell	....	production secretary
Steve McGillen	....	digital mastering
Deborah McNamara	....	title designer: main title
Nigel McNulty	....	production lawyer
Victoria Mielewska	....	dialect coach
Cuong Ngo	....	translator
Cian O'Clery	....	cast production assistant
Cian O'Clery	....	production runner
John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell	....	choreographer (as John O'Connell)
Donna Ostroff	....	assistant: Mr. Pollack
Mikki Pallas	....	assistant: Mr. Fraser
Daniel Pritchard	....	assistant accountant
Rachel Proudlove	....	assistant accountant
Paul Ranford	....	production coordinator
Jacquie Robertson	....	unit nurse
Zeynep Selcuk	....	assistant: Ms. Barnard
Clare Shervington	....	production coordinator
Leoni Strickland	....	production assistant
Stephen Taylor	....	production accountant
Brett Thornquest	....	post-production accountant
Anh Hoa Tran	....	director's advisor: Vietnam
Anh Hoa Tran	....	liaison
Anh Hoa Tran	....	translator
Kerryn Vallence	....	assistant: Mr. Caine
Kristin Witcombe	....	script supervisor
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)
Jason Mack	....	security officer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. 2. Produktions KG
• Intermedia Films
• Mirage Enterprises
• Pacifica Film
• Saga

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Buena Vista International
• Filmes Lusomundo
• Intermedia
• Medusa Distribuzione
• Paradise Group (2002) (Russia) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Pyramid (Russia)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (video)

Special Effects

• Animal Logic
• Atlab (digital effects) (as Atlab Australia)
• GMD (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  original music recorded at (as Air Lyndhurst)
• Atlab  digital grading (as Atlab Australia)
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  adr recording: United Kingdom (as De Lane Lea)
• Frame, Set & Match  high definition film grading
• Frame, Set & Match  video mastering
• Metro Voices  choir
• Negative Cutting Services  negative matching
• Optical & Graphics  end titles
• Optical & Graphics  subtitles
• Panavision Australia  camera equipment provided by
• Panavision Australia  lighting equipment: Australia (as Panavision Lighting)
• Premier Lighting  lighting equipment: Australia
• Soundfirm  sound post-production facilities
• Spectrum Films International  picture post-production facility
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Trackdown Digital  additional music recording
• Twickenham Film Studios  adr recording: United Kingdom
• Video-8 Broadcast  rushes telecine transfer
• Who Dares  security and Safety

Also Known As:

Der stille Amerikaner (Germany)
The Spy (Philippines: English title)
Un Américain bien tranquille (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for images of violence and some language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Germany | USA | UK | Australia | France

Language:

English | French | Vietnamese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Da Nang, Vietnam

Company:

IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. 2. Produktions KG

Trivia:

The film ends with newspaper stories written by Thomas Fowler about Vietnam from 1954 to 1966. However the book on which the film was based was published in 1955, so these are mostly events which happened after the book came out.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Fowler is reading his report of the massacre in The Times, the text says "120 kilometers". In the unlikely event that an English journalist in the 1950s would use kilometers instead of miles, he would have spelled it "kilometres". Also, the text reads that Phat Diem is "120 kilometers north of Hanoi" when, in fact, it is 120 kilometers SOUTH of Hanoi.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Thomas Fowler: [voiceover] I can't say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman's voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you're looking for, you will find here...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Song for Phuong

Flawed but fascinating and well made none the less

1952. Siagon. English journalist Thomas Fowler lives a quiet life with his young mistress, Phuong and no intention to return to London. When the Times request he return he starts looking for stories to ensure he can stay. At the same time an idealistic young American arrives as part of a medical aid programme in the middle of the war between the French and the Communist forces in the North fighting for independence. The American, Pyle falls for Phuong and the two men discuss what can be done. However in any conflict it is impossible to stay neutral for long.

As the film rather bluntly says, the plot here is the same story told twice. That of the Americans trying to protect a beautiful country/girl from an unpleasant future (unmarried or communism) even if it means taking her away from her older European master (France or Fowler). The two plots work well even if they have flaws. The tale of the two lovers is less well handed than the critical political stuff but is still good and slightly moving. The political comment is less sharp now than I imagine it was when Greene made it all those years ago, but it will still have impact as America's foreign policy prepares to take it into another conflict overseas in order to remove/keep out forces it feels are harmful to America.

I assume that this is what Noyce wanted and he does it well. The alignment with the central love is not that well done, and this is shown by the fact that Pyle is given those lines to speak so clearly in case anyone missed it. The love story didn't work as well as it should partly because I needed more information – for example Phuong's motives were never fully clear and her character was weakly developed throughout. However it didn't take too much away from the film as a total and I still enjoyed it very much.

One of the main reasons was the direction. I have recently seen Noyce's Rabbit Proof Fence and he worked well there. Again here he directs well with the bigger landscape shots but also does well with more intimate or action shots. He also brings an excellent performance out of Caine. He should really get an Oscar for this but I suspect he won't as he got one a few years ago. Jaws The Revenge seems a very long time ago after seeing this film – Caine is perfectly understated and you can see the emotion build rather than just appear. Fraser is also very good even if his character has to be damaged by having him explain things. Hai Yen is not as good. She is pretty and a nice gentle voice but I wanted her to have a better character – with more she could have done more.

Overall this film may get bad reviews in the US due to it's clear criticism of past American policy but it doesn't deserve it. The love story element of it may have it's flaws but the film works pretty well overall and the political drama side is strong enough to hold it together. The main problem for me was actually believing that an American could ever exist that is as polite and well spoken as Fraser portrays Pyle to be!