Continuity mistake: When Pyle and Fowler talk about the sound difference of a backfiring car and a grenade Pyle's jacket is hanging over his right sholder, held by one finger. When the camera angle changes it's hanging over his left arm. (00:09:30)
The Quiet American (2002)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Rade Serbedzija, Do Thi Hai Yen, Thi Hai Yen Do
Alden Pyle is a CIA agent working to install General as the new leader of Vietnam in order to stamp out the steadiy growth of rampant comunism in those parts He wins over Thomas Fowler's mistress, Phuong, after Fowler's wife in London denies his request for a divorce. Pyle inadvertedly is responsible for allowing the bombing in the square, he had intended/expected for the detonations to occur at stradegic millitary sites. Hinh, Fowler's coworker and a communist sympahiser, asks Fowler to set up Pyle for assassination since accident or not he is too blame for all the deaths. Fowler jealous that Pyle is stealing away Phuong, betraying his trust and for being a part of this carnage agrees, however he gets cold feet and tries to warn Pyle but fails as Alden is intercepted by Hinh's comrades and dragged off into an alleyway he flees but is confronted Hinh concealed behind an alleway corner who plunges a blade into his chest. The police suspect Fowler, but do not press him as Tom goes to identify his friend and does show he is genuinely ashamed in his part of his pal's demise. Phuong returns to Fowler and they remain in Vietnam through the 1960's.
SPOILED IT FOR YA!
More mistakes in The Quiet American
Thomas Fowler: If I lost her, for me, it would be the beginning of death.
Trivia: The officer speaking French is true to historical facts: it was mainly the French Foreign Legion fighting in Indochina at the time. However, the troops were predominantly of German origin (ex Wehrmacht and SS soldiers) and there is no detectable German accent in their French. True, this could be a fully French unit, thus no mistake. In live movies and interviews from the time, German accents in French are common.
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