him as well. Freddie's body is soon found and the Italian police become involved. Tom continues his charade, switching like a chameleon between his identity and Philippe's, depending on what the situation demands. Winging a scheme to implicate Philippe in Freddie's murder, Tom then forges a suicide note and a will, leaving Philippe’s fortune to Marge. Tom survives a long string of close shaves, throwing the Italian police off his trail and seemingly having outwitted everyone. He goes on to seduce Marge, dallying with her in Philippe's island home. Philippe's father arrives to settle the transfer of Philippe's estate, but she and Tom are swimming at the beach. When Philippe's yacht is being pulled out of the water for inspection by a buyer, Marge is called to attend. Philippe stays behind to celebrate the success of his gambit, ordering the best drink in the house at a nearby cafe. At the boatyard Marge is horrified to see a canvas-wrapped body dragged up the ways behind the yacht, the loose end of its lashing having fouled around the sailboat’s propeller. Meanwhile, a police detective from Rome who has been stalking Tom the whole time has closed in on him. Still unaware of the grisly discovery he uses the ruse of a phone call for Tom to draw him directly into his clutches. Cast Alain Delon as Tom Ripley Maurice Ronet as Philippe Greenleaf Marie Laforêt as Marge Duval Erno Crisa as Inspector Riccordi Billy Kearns as Freddy Miles Frank Latimore as O'Brien Elvire Popesco as Madame Popova Nicolas Petrov as Boris the dancer Ave Ninchi as Signora Gianna, landlady in Rome Lily Romanelli as Greenleaf's Housekeeper in Mongibello Nerio Bernardi as the Ship's Agency Director as The Belgian Lady Paul Muller as The Blind Man (uncredited) René Clément as a servant (uncredited cameo appearance) Romy Schneider as Freddy's companion (uncredited cameo appearance; Schneider was Delon's girlfriend at that time) Production Delon was cast after the director saw him in Women Are Weak (1959). Screenwriter Paul Gégauff wrote a variation on the same story in 1968 when he worked on Les biches for Claude Chabrol. Reception Purple Noon was lauded by critics, and made Delon a star. In 1962, Clément and Paul Gégauff won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Foreign Film Screenplay. It enjoys a loyal cult following even today, with fans including film director Martin