René Clément
Delitto in pieno sole

THE REVIEW

The recent death of actor Alain Delon has stirred memories among many admirers of the golden age of cinema. On Debaser, a user posted a wonderful review of "La prima notte di quiete," with the recommendation to discover or rediscover the talent of the actor in question by watching that film. In my personal opinion, if one wants to see Delon at the peak of his acting abilities and still as a young emerging actor, the highly recommended title is "Delitto in pieno sole," directed by René Clément and released in 1960.

Inspired by the novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith, the film follows the protagonist Ripley (played by Alain Delon) who, on a paid assignment from the wealthy Yankee Greenleaf family, reaches their son Philippe on vacation in Italy to persuade him to return home. But Philippe procrastinates and prefers to lead a gilded life under the Italian skies, accompanied by his dear friend Marge. At this point, what triggers in Tom Ripley's mind is a sort of envy towards the social status of the rich heir and an attraction towards Marge. He will even go so far as to kill him to assume Philippe's identity. What follows are incredible and adventurous developments, but Ripley's impersonation skills will be almost perfect, although in the end, crime does not pay.

There's no need to detail the breath-taking plot developments here, which are well described in Highsmith's novel and effectively rendered on screen. Rather, I wish to highlight Alain Delon's performance as he delivers a dangerous criminal like Ripley. This is considering his unforgettable magnetic gaze. Who could suspect such an individual with such deep cerulean eyes capable of attracting a broad female audience? Yet such a type can prove capable of heinous acts. It would be enough to compare it with what is seen in the film's 1999 remake by Minghella, which casts Matt Damon as Tom Ripley. Certainly a talented actor, but with that good old Yankee boy expression in full health, he does not manage to be as charming and ambiguous as Delon was in Clément's film.

And Alain Delon's interpretation is so commendable that it makes him the most suitable actor for roles of young and bold characters, as he will be in Visconti's works, in addition to men of few words but characterized by a certain inner turmoil like the protagonist of "La prima notte di quiete." In short, always unpredictable and surprising characters, of whom it is best not to entirely trust.