Poster

The American Friend ()

Der amerikanische Freund (original title)
Reference View | Change View
Tom Ripley, who deals in forged art, suggests a picture framer he knows would make a good hit man.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

114 photos | 1 video

Complete, Cast awaiting verification

Edit
...
Tom Ripley
...
Jonathan Zimmermann
...
Marianne Zimmermann
...
Raoul Minot
...
'Derwatt'
...
Der Amerikaner
...
Marcangelo
...
Igraham
Sandy Whitelaw ...
Arzt in Paris
...
Freundlicher Mann
...
Rodolphe
Andreas Dedecke ...
Daniel
David Blue ...
Allan Winter
Stefan Lennert ...
Auktionator
...
Gantner
Gerty Molzen ...
Alte Dame
...
Dr. Gabriel
Heinrich Marmann ...
Herr im Zug
Satya De La Manitou ...
Angie
Axel Schiessler ...
Lippo
Adolf Hansen ...
Schaffner
Rosemarie Heinikel ...
Mona
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
...
Falling man (uncredited)
...
Figure Wrapped in Plaster Bandages in Ambulance (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
Wim Wenders

Written by

Edit
Patricia Highsmith ... (novel "Ripley's Game")
 
Wim Wenders ... ()

Produced by

Edit
Renée Gundelach ... supervising producer
Margaret Ménégoz ... line producer
Joachim von Mengershausen ... producer: WDR
Wim Wenders ... producer

Music by

Edit
Jürgen Knieper

Cinematography by

Edit
Robby Müller

Editing by

Edit
Peter Przygodda

Editorial Department

Edit
Gisela Bock ... assistant editor
Philipp Orgassa ... digital restoration colorist
Ingrid Träutlein-Peer ... assistant editor
Barbara von Weitershausen ... assistant editor

Art Direction by

Edit
Heidi Lüdi
Toni Lüdi

Costume Design by

Edit
Isolde Nist

Makeup Department

Edit
Evelyn Döhring ... makeup artist
Hannelore Uhrmacher ... makeup artist

Production Management

Edit
Pierre Cottrell ... production manager
Harald Kügler ... unit manager
Michael Wiedemann ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Emmanuel Clot ... assistant director
Fritz Müller-Scherz ... assistant director
Philippe Schwartz ... first assistant director

Art Department

Edit
Peter Braun ... props
Luigi De Luca ... props
Bernhard Frey ... props
Eckerhard Voggenreiter ... props

Sound Department

Edit
Milan Bor ... sound mixer
Jochen Bärwald ... assistant sound
Max Galinsky ... sound mixer
Peter Kaiser ... sound
Maryte Kavaliauskas ... sound assistant
Jens-Uwe Laddey ... assistant sound
Martin Müller ... sound mixer

Special Effects by

Edit
Theo Nischwitz ... special effects

Stunts

Edit
Klaus Schichan ... stunts

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Jean-François Casi ... crane operator: Louma crane
Marc Casi ... crane operator: Louma crane
Wolfgang Dell ... lighting technician
Hans Dreher ... grip
Ernst Harinko ... lighting technician
Ekkehard Heinrich ... lighting technician
Edward Lachman ... assistant camera
Jean-Marie Lavalou ... crane operator: Louma crane
Jean-Claude Le Bras ... electrician (as Jean-Claude LeBras)
Robert Morsch ... electrician
Tassilo Peik ... lighting technician
Viktor Sauermann ... lighting technician
Martin Schäfer ... assistant camera
Jacques Steyn ... assistant camera
Hans Volkmann ... lighting technician
Andreas Willim ... electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Renate Zimmermann ... wardrobe

Location Management

Edit
Heinz Badewitz ... location manager
Pat Kirck ... location manager: New York
Philippe Schwartz ... location manager: Paris

Script and Continuity Department

Edit
Gretl Zeilinger ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

Edit
Claude Bertonazzi ... production administrator
Anne Povel ... bookkeeper
Harald Vogel ... production assistant

Thanks

Edit
Henri Langlois ... dedicatee

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

Tom Ripley has a sweet deal with an art forger. The forger creates the paintings; Tom sells them. But another criminal business associate wants Tom to go in for an even riskier enterprise: murder. Tom suggests his associate ask a local picture framer instead. That man has a fatal disease, or so it's rumored. More, he has a wife and kid that surely he wouldn't want to leave penniless. Let this picture framer be a hit man, and no one will suspect. The terminally ill craftsman may agree to the misdeed, and several more, but he'll end up needing Tom Ripley in a pinch. Written by J. Spurlin

Plot Keywords
Taglines ...transforms Patricia Highsmith's Ripley's Game into a gripping European noir. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • L'ami américain (France)
  • The American Friend (United States)
  • The American Friend (Canada, English title)
  • The American Friend (World-wide, English title)
  • The American Friend (United Kingdom)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 128 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget DEM3,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia Bruno Ganz carried a real gun during the scene in the train station, because, humorously enough, the filmmakers could not afford a fake gun. See more »
Goofs The shadow of the helicopter filming is visible during the aerial shot of the train at about 1:27. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Living Daylights/Maid to Order/The Lost Boys/Stakeout (1987). See more »
Soundtracks Too Much on My Mind See more »
Crazy Credits The acting credits are divided into: the four leads, the rest of the cast, and the six directors who make guest appearances ("Als Gäste die Regisseure"). See more »
Quotes Tom Ripley: I like this room. It's got a good feel to it. It's quiet and peaceful. Just like you. I envy you. The smell of paint and wood. Must be good to work here. Then when you finish something, you can see what you've done.
Jonathan Zimmermann: It's not that easy. Not that safe and easy. What do you make?
Tom Ripley: I make money. And I travel a lot. I'm bringing the Beatles back to Hamburg.
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed