Purple Noon: Directed by René Clément. With Alain Delon, Marie Laforêt, Maurice Ronet, Erno Crisa. Tom Ripley is a talented mimic, moocher, forger and all-around criminal improviser; but there's more to Tom Ripley than even he can guess.

Purple Noon tells the story of Tom Ripley (Alain Delon) who goes to Italy to see his friend Phillipe Greenleaft (Maurice Ronet) and his fianceé Marge Duval (Marie Laforêt). Phillipe's father wants him to come back to the US (San Francisco, specifically) and run the family business.

In Rome, we see Philippe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet) and Tom Ripley (Alain Delon) at a cafe table together; Tom is writing postcards. They chat about Philippe's girlfriend Marge, who he is having trouble with.

Drawn from Patricia Highsmith's Ripley's Game, the film stars Dennis Hopper as Ripley, an amoral character first portrayed by Alain Delon in René Clément's Purple Noon. He shows up in Hamburg, Germany, to sell a painting by a supposedly dead artist,...

Purple Noon (1960) 2 of 178. Alain Delon and Maurice Ronet in Purple Noon (1960) People Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet. Titles Purple Noon. Photo by Keystone/Getty Images.

His first outstanding success came with the role of the parasite Tom Ripley in 'Rene Clement''s sun-drenched thriller Purple Noon (1960). Delon presented a psychological portrait of a murderous young cynic who attempts to take on the identity of his victim.

Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960) Close. 53 of 178. Purple Noon (1960) 53 of 178. Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960) People Alain Delon. Titles Purple Noon.

Purple Noon (1960) 169 of 178 Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960). People Alain Delon

Purple Noon (1960) 166 of 183. Alain Delon and Marie Laforêt in Purple Noon (1960) People Alain Delon, Marie Laforêt. Titles Purple Noon. Countries France, Israel. Languages French.

Purple Noon (1960) 165 of 178. Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960) People Alain Delon. Titles Purple Noon. Countries Belgium. Languages French, Dutch.