i just saw this film on turner classic movie . when it be over i be remind of hemingway comment when he be ask his opinion of the film version of the snow of kilimanjaro represent it be okay except for one difference while in my story the protagonist dy and and in the film he live . this film be as much a distortion of greene a the other film be of hemingway while in greene novel the title character be intend to be a villain and but in this film he be a hero . it be not a spoiler to tell you that the title character dy and because the film begin with his death and tell what lead up to it in flashback . in greene novel and the seemingly naive and idealistic american who be in ( then ) french indochina for vaguely idealistic operative be in fact a sinister undercover cia operative in cahoot with an unscrupulous general . together with the general and he plan and execute bombing in public place that result in the death of dozen of innocent people and then leave evidence make it appear that the communist carry out the bombing . his purpose be to turn the vietnamese people against both the french and the communist and leave them open to intervention by the u and who will of course put the renegade general in charge . the american be see a so evil by fowler and the pathetic english journalist who be his rival in love and that fowler go along with a plot to have him kill . the novel be intensely anti american and a be greene . by contrast and this film and release in 1958 at the height of the cold war and just after the mccarthy era and could not afford to appear anti american . the title character be therefore make to appear like a good guy who be indeed hop for a u back third force to intervene in vietnam . he be never identify a a cia operative and and his complicity in the bombing be reveal a a communist fabrication intend to dupe the naive fowler and others . fowler collaborates in the american murder because he be a rival in love and not because he be evil . greene be reportedly outrage at this change and denounce the film . there be some poetic justice represent the film be both a commercial and critical failure . there be some merit to the film . it be film on location in saigon and very unusual for the time when most film like this be film in the studio . consequently and we get to see what saigon be like in a more innocent time and before large scale u intervention . there be several asian actor and actress in minor role and but not in the key role of phuong and the vietnamese prostitute with whom both fowler and the american fall in love . phuong be play by a caucasian actress with poor makeup and a continuation of a lamentable hollywood practice that last until the 1960s . there be a superb performance by michael redgrave a fowler . audie murphy sleepwalks through his portrayal of the american . this film be an interesting period curiosity that be worth watch and but the 2002 film with michael caine and brendan frasier be much good and much truer to greene novel . that version be highly recommended .