The American
Synopsis
After the horror of the Civil War, 'ignorant' Christopher Newman made his fortune. He travels to France is search of cultural treasures. He won't get past the Paris nightlife. After an affair with a haughty painter, he falls in love with the daughter of the late marquis de Bellegarde. She was married off and traumatized by her abusive late husband for the family's sake. Her elder brother supports their ruthless mother, but junior Valentin is besotted with the artist and strikes a partnership with Christopher.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Paul Unwin
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael Hastings, Henry James
- Original Score
- Stephen McKeon
- Original Title
- The American
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America, Ireland
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 24m
- Production Studios
- BBC Worldwide, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, WGBH Video, BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Paul Unwin
Michael Hastings, Henry James
Stephen McKeon
Tony Miller
Kate Evans
Fiona Finlay, Rebecca Eaton, Michael Wearing, Nigel Warren-Green, Simon Curtis
Department Leadership Roster
Michael Hastings
Writer
Paul Unwin
Director
Fiona Finlay
Producer
Dominick Hewitt
Stunt Coordinator
Stephen McKeon
Original Music Composer
Tony Miller
Director of Photography
Kate Evans
Editor
Lorna Marie Mugan
Costume Design
Frank Conway
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The American.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The American
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The American about?
After the horror of the Civil War, 'ignorant' Christopher Newman made his fortune. He travels to France is search of cultural treasures. He won't get past the Paris nightlife. After an affair with a haughty painter, he falls in love with the daughter of the late marquis de Bellegarde. She was married off and traumatized by her abusive late husband for the family's sake. Her elder brother supports their ruthless mother, but junior Valentin is besotted with the artist and strikes a partnership with Christopher.
Who directed The American?
The American was directed by Paul Unwin.
Who stars in The American?
The principal cast of The American includes Matthew Modine, Diana Rigg, Aisling O'Sullivan, Paul Hickey, Andrew Scott.
When was The American released and how long is it?
The American was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 1h 24m.
Who composed the musical score for The American?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The American was composed by Stephen McKeon.
Is The American based on a book or true story?
The American is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Henry James".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The American?
The American holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).