Film Pairings — The Quiet American Times Two

The Book

Is there ever a time when there’s not a war somewhere? Is there ever a time when we – the U.S.A. – are not involved at least covertly? Two films were made based on Graham Greene’s powerful novel, The Quiet American.  Romance and suspense mix with a look at history as all unfolds in a literarily parallel construction.

I was in my early teens when the French failed to hold onto their colonial interests in Vietnam. We didn’t know that the ongoing fear of the Communists and a misguided belief in what was called the domino theory’ of increasing Red dominance would lead us into an unwinnable and perhaps unethical war – a lesson we failed to grasp then and now.

The Quiet American (1958) – Because of 50’s political fall out in the U.S. (the commie scare”) the film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz diluted Greene’s anti-war message and the U.S. complicity in atrocities. World War II hero-turned actor Audie Murphy played the innocent – or is he? – American, and Michael Redgrave portrayed the older, cynical journalist. The story of Vietnam’s dependence on their colonial ruler is a parallel to the young and lovely Vietnamese woman’s dependence on the British journalist. Is it love? This version was shot in black and white, which may account for its grittier appeal.  We don’t get to see much of Michael Redgrave (father of Lynn and Vanessa) in film. He does a fine job here.

The Quiet American (2002) – Time is supposed to provide perspective. Though it didn’t in the case of U.S. foreign policy with regard to Indochina, it did with the two films about the French and ultimate American failures there. With the benefit of hindsight, the2002 filmmakers wisely held closer to Greene’s book.  Phillip Noyce directed the remake. One of the major differences between the two films is that number two is shot in color, giving us a deeply sensuous look at an extraordinarily beautiful country. The difference is that this version realizes Greene’s dark vision of human behavior as it applies to the actions of nations and individuals, and the very sad fact that most of us do not know whom to trust. Brendan Fraser plays the seemingly idealistic American in French occupied Vietnam and Michael Caine the cynical British journalist.  Caine won an Academy Award for his role. Do Thi Hai Yen was just right as the young Vietnamese woman, the object of love or desire by Fraser and Caine.

To accompany the double feature, it should probably be something French. Pernod, maybe? A white wine?  Perrier? You decide.

  

Film Pairings — Intrigue In The Tropics, Politics And Strange Bedfellows

As cold weather approaches, this might be the time to entertain a couple of politically challenging films set where perspiration is more likely than goose pimples and a dramatic glimpse into recent history provokes thoughts about how our actions in foreign lands are more serious than we might think.  What does our government do when we’re not paying attention?

The Extraordinary Linda Hunt

The Year of Living Dangerously tells the story of an Australian journalist (Mel Gibson) who arrives in Indonesia during increasing public unrest, which finally results in the overthrow of its corrupt President Sukarno.  The question pits a hungry, get-the-scoop journalist against understanding the deeper issues that affect a population being undermined by its leaders.  Not too incidentally, he must choose between his career and the woman he loves.  Tough choices.  Linda Hunt gives her academy award performance as a young male dwarf concerned about the victims of corrupt leadership and Sigourney Weaver is the woman in the ambitious reporter's life.  The steamy, smart sexy, adventurous film directed by Peter Weir was released in 1982.  It was based on the book by Christopher Koch.

The parallels between this film and the film of Graham Greene’s The Quiet American are worth noticing. Director Phillip Noyce initially wanted to do The Year of Living Dangerously before losing out to Weir.  Here, we have CIA intervention in the affairs of 1950s Vietnam while the French were struggling with colonizing it, all supposedly part of domino theory that would again raise its ugly head in the 1960s with the U.S. trying to get rid of the “red menace.”

In this case, Michael Caine plays a cynical journalist posted to Saigon during the French occupation.    The U.S., which escaped culpability in Weir’s version of the Sukarno affair, doesn’t fair so well in The Quiet American.  In fact, this is a remake.  The first film, (1958) starring American war hero Audie Murphy, was virtually disowned by Greene as an American propaganda film.  This one (2002) was more faithful to Greene’s intent.  When we meet Brendan Fraser’s character, we believe he is an innocent do-gooder, a contrast to the older, wizened character played by Caine.  Things, we learn, aren’t always what they seem and right and wrong, as it is in both movies, aren’t necessarily easy to discern. The idea of “collateral damage” is brought up here and is just as serious and controversial today as are CIA dirty tricks. Both films have, a their heart, both doing right on a deeply personal level with those we love and doing right for a cause greater than ourselves.  And when are abominable acts justified in order to achieve a so-called greater good? Do Thi Hai Yen is the beautiful Vietnamese woman who symbolizes both the personal and the universal.

These are two perfect films for those who love history and politics mixed with a little steamy sex.  And if cold, gray winter has descended on your household, take a trip to places closer to the equator.  Turn up the heat and drink something that requires ice and a lime or a lemon.