The Quiet American

In 1952 Saigon, the body of Alden Pyle (Audie Murphy), a young American, is found dead near a river during the Chinese New Year celebration. Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave), a British journalist, had invited Pyle to his flat. Inspector Vigot (Claude Dauphin), who is investigating the drowning murder of Pyle, interrogates Fowler, who declines to verify whether Pyle and Fowler's former Vietnamese lover, Phuong (Giorgia Moll), were engaged. At a morgue, Fowler identifies the corpse is indeed Pyle. As Fowler recollects, a flashback occurs. Months ago, Pyle had first met Fowler and Phuong inside a hotel lobby where they discuss the ongoing Indochina War. Pyle invites Fowler and Phuong to the Rendez-Vous restaurant where he dances with Phoung and meets her sister (Kerima). A week later, Fowler travels up north as advised by his contact Dominquez (Fred Sadoff). There, Fowler learns not only Pyle has allied with General Thé, a renegade commander leading the "Third Force," but that Pyle also intends to marry Phuong. Fowler himself is a married man, but cannot marry Phuong until he divorces his wife. When he leaves, Fowler receives a telegram from London, stating he has been promoted as a chief foreign editor, but to accept would require his moving back to London and separation from Phuong. Two weeks later, Fowler returns to Saigon and learns Pyle is importing plastics. At Fowler's flat, Pyle tells Phuong about his intent to marry her, with translation help from Fowler. When Pyle leaves, Fowler writes a letter to his wife, requesting a divorce. Days later, after Fowler and other journalists interview a Caodai military commander, he helps Pyle ride back to Saigon. When Fowler's car runs out of fuel, he and Pyle find shelter at a watchtower with two Vietnamese sentries. Before long, the watchtower is bombed by the Communists and Fowler is hit in the ankle as they hide under fire in a flooded rice paddy. As Fowler recovers, he reads his wife's letter, in which she refuses to divorce per her faith. He however lies to both Phuong and Pyle stating his wife has agreed to a divorce. Sometime later, Dominguez recommends Fowler to speak with Mr. Heng (Richard Loo), a Chinese communist. Trusting Fowler's journalistic neutrality, Heng shows him materials containing "diolacton," an American trademarked plastic explosive. Meanwhile, at a restaurant, Pyle exposes Fowler for his lying. That same afternoon, Heng shows Fowler imported bicycle pumps that have been made from "diolacton." When Fowler returns to his flat, he discovers that Phuong has left him for Pyle. Inside the city square, several bicycles with tire pumps explode, seriously injuring multiple people. A bomb explodes at the Continental. At first, Fowler thinks Phuong might be there, but Pyle warned her away. Hours later, Heng tells Fowler to invite Pyle for dinner tonight. At his flat, Pyle reveals an influential Vietnamese he met at Princeton had sparked in his interest in Vietnam, whereby he believes his alliance with General Thé will ensure the nation becomes a republic. Pyle further adds he intends to leave with Phuong next week. Back in the present, Fowler leaves the morgue and tells Phuong about Pyle's death. At Pyle's flat, Vigot has investigated that Fowler had indeed met Pyle that night, and his feelings for Phuong were manipulated by Dominguez and Mr. Heng, both of whom were agents of a Communist killing squad. The "diolacton" trademark is also revealed to have never existed. So, Fowler was selected as the mark to set up a friend for assassination. After Vigot leaves, Fowler finds a telegram, stating his wife has agreed to a divorce. Elevated, Fowler finds Phuong at the Rendez-Vous restaurant where she begins to work as a hostess but she rejects him.