Discover the books and films featuring the character of Patricia Highsmith.
Books
(All edited by Intrínseca)
“The Talented Ripley” (1955)
R$59.90 (336 pages); R$13.96 (ebook). Translation of José Francisco Botelho
The first and most famous of the series. Swindler Tom Ripley makes a living from small-time scams, but sees his luck change when he receives an offer to travel to a village in Italy and convince Dickie Greenleaf, the son of a wealthy industrialist, to return home and take over the family business. The friendship between the two is complicated by the intervention of Marge, rich and in love with Dickie. Ripley’s fascination with Dickie’s good life takes the form of an obsession.
“Ripley Underground” (1970)
R$59.90 (336 pages); R$19.21 (ebook). Translation of Fernanda Abreu
Tom Ripley lives in a rich village in the south of France with his wife, Héloïse, a young heiress to a fortune, but a case of counterfeiting of paintings will shake his peace.
“Ripley’s Game” (1974)
R$59.90 (336 pages); R$25.16 (ebook). Translation of José Francisco Botelho
A friend’s suggestion to kill two Italian mobsters draws Ripley back into the unpredictable game of crime, which soon spirals out of control with numerous chases and deaths.
“The Boy Who Followed Ripley” (1980)
R$59.90 (400 pages); R$29.33 (ebook). Translation of Fernanda Abreu
Ripley commits the imprudence, especially for someone of her profile, to protect a boy involved in a serious crime and finds herself caught up in a dangerous network of scams and lies.
“Ripley Underwater” (1991)
R$59.90 (368 pages); R$29.33 (ebook). Translation of José Francisco Botelho
In the final book in the series, a few American neighbors begin to uncover dark secrets from Ripley’s past, leading our villain to abandon his retirement plans.
Movies
“The Sun as Witness” (1960)
Director: René Clément. Actors: Alain Delon, Marie Laforêt and Maurice Ronet
First cinematographic adaptation of the character, it made Alain Delon a star. This is the most iconic representation of Ripley to date. Filmed in Italy and spoken in French, it gives off an atmosphere close to “La Douce Vie”, a classic from the same year by Federico Fellini, and the first films of the new wave, even if Clément was smashed by François Truffaut’s gang. The ending displeased Patricia Highsmith, but it remains the best film ever made from Ripley’s books.
“The American Friend” (1977)
Director: Wim Wenders. With Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz.
The character’s universal appeal was proven once again when German Wim Wenders brought “Ripley’s Game” to the cinema. Dennis Hopper joins the list of great actors to play the killer on screen. A sign of Wenders’ prestige, great filmmakers, such as Samuel Fuller and Nicholas Ray, make small appearances.
“The Talented Ripley” (1999)
Director: Anthony Minghella. Starring: Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Finally an adaptation that has retained the original title of the book! Minghella was coming off the success of “The English Patient” (1996), which won several Academy Awards, and was able to devote great effort to the production. The film has a very different ending than the 1960 film, closer to Highsmith’s dark tone, but the cast was divided at the time, particularly over the casting of Damon as Ripley. Today, many consider it a shock version of an explosive book.
“The Return of the Talented Ripley” (2002)
Direction: Liliana Cavani. Starring: John Malkovich, Dougray Scott
New adaptation of “Ripley’s Game”, again by a European artist, this time the Italian Liliana Cavani, famous creator of generally controversial films (“The Night Porter”). Some critics preferred Wenders’ version. And Malkovich was also a controversial Ripley, which in a way shows how difficult it was to play the villain after Alain Delon.
“Ripley Underground” (2005)
Director: Roger Spottiswoode. Starring: Barry Pepper, Willem Dafoe.
Based on the novel of the same name, the second volume in the series, it is the least known of the sociopath’s film adaptations. The director is the same as “Pare! Senão Mamãe Atira” (1992), a comedy with Sylvester Stallone widely broadcast during the Afternoon Session, on Globo. Ripley proved to be a challenge for any actor, but Pepper certainly received the most criticism for her role. “As Ripley’s previous films have demonstrated, it’s all about casting, and the talented Mr. Barry Pepper isn’t up to the task of playing the demonic, complex, murderous crook,” Variety said.
“Ripley” (2024)
Director: Steven Zaillian. Starring: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn.
New version of the first book, now in the form of an eight-episode Netflix series, in black and white. Zaillian, Oscar winner for the screenplay of “Schindler’s List” (1993), wrote the most faithful version of Patricia Highsmith’s text. The production was highly appreciated and Scott achieved the feat of being the most praised Ripley after Delon. “Scott’s Tom is everything and nothing, and fascinating anyway,” said the Guardian.
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