The American Friend

1977 2h 5m DE

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 462

DramaThrillerCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Tom Ripley, an American who deals in forged art, is slighted at an auction in Hamburg by picture framer Jonathan Zimmerman. When Ripley is asked by gangster Raoul Minot to kill a rival, he suggests Zimmerman, and the two, exploiting Zimmerman's terminal illness, coerce him into being a hitman.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Dennis Hopper
Tom Ripley
Bruno Ganz
Jonathan Zimmermann
Lisa Kreuzer
Marianne Zimmermann
Gérard Blain
Raoul Minot
Nicholas Ray
Andrew Pogash Derwatt
Samuel Fuller
The American
Peter Lilienthal
Marcangelo
Daniel Schmid
Samuel Igraham

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wim Wenders
Writers: Wim Wenders
Languages: English, French, German
Countries: France, Germany, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Robby Müller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jürgen Knieper. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Przygodda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz and Lisa Kreuzer carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0075675 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wim Wenders directs. Robby Müller behind the camera. Jürgen Knieper scores. Peter Przygodda cuts. Produced in France, Germany, United States of America. Dialogue in English, French, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

149 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, German.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, United States of America.
4Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Robby Müller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jürgen Knieper. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Peter Przygodda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz and Lisa Kreuzer carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0075675 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 21 themes, including "dying and death", "new york city", "friendship", "husband wife relationship".