The American Friend

The American Friend German Der amerikanische Freund is a 1977 film by Wim Wenders, loosely adapted from the novel Ripleys Game by Patricia Highsmith. The film is of the neonoir genre, and features Dennis Hopper as career criminal Tom Ripley and Bruno Ganz as Jonathan Zimmermann, a terminally ill picture framer whom Ripley coerces into becoming an assassin.

Wenders wanted to cast John Cassavetes as Ripley, who declined and suggested Dennis Hopper for the part. After casting Hopper, an experienced director, Wenders decided to cast directors in all of the gangster roles, including Grard Blain, Nicholas Ray, and Samuel Fuller. Wenders disliked the title Ripleys Game and shot the film under the title Framed. He also considered the title Rule Without Exception. He credits Hopper with suggesting the title The American Friend.American popular music is heard at several points in the film. Ripley quotes the song Ballad of Easy Rider from Easy Rider, a film that Hopper starred in and directed. He later quotes from Bob Dylans One More Cup of Coffee and I Pity the Poor Immigrant. Jonathan Zimmermann plays or sings songs by The Kinks, Too Much on My Mind and Nothin in the World Can Stop Me Worryin Bout That Girl in his shop. Summer in the City, the first fulllength feature film from Wenders, was dedicated to The Kinks. Ripley mentions to Jonathan that hes bringing the Beatles back to Hamburg, and Jonathan quotes their song Drive My Car later in the film. ........

Source: Wikipedia