The Quiet American: A Film

Production Information: Ahrenberg, S. & Horberg, W. (Producers). Noyce, P. (Director). (2002). The Quiet American. DVD. USA: Miramax Films.


Plot Summary: The Quiet American is a film based on the bestselling novel by Graham Greene. The story is set in the 1950's in Saigon, Vietnam, during the end of the First Indochina War. Michael Caine plays Thomas Fowler. Fowler is a British Journalist in his fifties who falls for a young Vietnamese girl, Phuong, (played by Do Thi Hai Yen). Brendan Fraser plays Alden Pyle. Pyle is a CIA operative who represents America's policies towards the Vietnam War. Pyle falls for the lovely Phong and a love triangle develops between Fowler, Pyle and Phuong.

The Quiet American is a love story and a war story. The film involves Vietman and the political turmoil that was going on in the 1950's. The Vietnamese were struggling for their independence from French Colonial Rule. Pyle was devoted to the ideas of York Harding who believed that Vietnam needed a "third player" to help restore order in the region. Pyle created a Vietnamese group, but it was headed by a corrupt leader named General The. Thereafter, a series of bombings that were blamed on the Communists were really the doing of General The. People were outraged by the senseless killing of innocent people. Fowler finds out about Pyle's involvement in the bombings. When confronted, Pyle tries running away and consequently gets stabbed and killed.


Critical Evaluation: Michael Caine was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in this version of The Quiet American. Caine did an excellent job of portraying Thomas Fowler, as did Do Thi Hai Yen as Phuong. I don't think Brendan Fraser was necessarily the right choice to play Alden Pyle. It may be my personal bias, but Fraser does not have a strong enough presence to portray a CIA operative for this role. The Quiet American is an excellent film for students who are studying about Vietnam. It combines Vietnamese customs and scenery with an interesting love triangle.

Annotation: In the 1950's in Saigon, Vietnam, The Quiet American is a love story and a political film about the unrest in Vietnam and the growing involvement of the American government.

About the Director: Phillip Noyce is an Australian film director born in 1950. At 18 years of age, Noyce started making short films. In 1973 he joined the Australian Film & Television School. His first professional film, Backroads, was released in 1977. Noyce's first commercial and critical success, Newsfront, was released in 1978 and won awards for Best Film, Director and Screenplay from the Australian Film Institute. Noyce went on to produce the thriller Dead Calm which starred Nicole Kidman in the United States and Clear and Present Danger starring Harrison Ford.

Genre: Drama/ Political Drama/ Period Film

Curriculum Ties: Cultural Studies/ Social Studies

Talking Points: What happens when an older British journalist and a younger CIA operative both fall in love with a young Vietnamese woman? Who does Phuong choose? Pyle who may offer her marriage and security, or Fowler who cannot marry her because he is already married but has given her everything.

Rating and Interest Age: Rated R. 16 and older.

Challenge Issues: Graphic violence, sex, and nudity.

Reason for Inclusion: The Quiet American, for the more mature teen, is an excellent introduction to Vietnam and all of the turmoil in the 1950's that led to the Vietnam War. Because of the love story, it holds the viewer's interest, especially those like myself who are not into war movies.