audie murphy be wooden in his portrayal of the american and and in a twist to the novel and be the hero of the piece . not quite what greene have in mind but relevant to event in the usa during the mccarthy era when this film be make ( 1958 ) . phuong have not be give the importance she demand in the novel . the way in which she be colonise by first fowler and then the american ( pyle in the novel and but not name in this film ) be a comment on the way in which the foreign landscape be depict and also on how the country have be colonise . despite this she be also manipulative . however and have say some negative thing about this production of the quiet american and it be a must view for the portrayal of tension in the cold war era and the usa twist to event a they unfold . remember that audie murphy and joseph l. mankiewicz testify for huac against their fellow actor and colleague at the height of mccarthyism . this film be totally relevant to event unfold today and for all those interested in the effect of colonialism and the rise of the vietnam war . what be interest about this film be the different take on event portray in greene superb novel and unfortunately and some of which be omit or subvert in the 1958 film . this film should be follow by the philip noyce version of the quiet american ( 2001 ) with michael caine a thomas fowler and brendan fraser a pyle ( the american in the mankiewicz version ) . there be a good opportunity to contrast and compare the two version which be very different and give that the noyce quiet american be closer to the novel . i would also recommend for light relief that viewer watch the mash season 2 tv series in which we see colonel flag of the cia raise a few loud laugh .