The American Friend - The Ultimate Picture Palace

The American Friend12A

Directed by Wim Wenders | Germany | 1977 | 2h 6m | German w/ English subtitles | Starring Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer, Nicholas Ray

An American living in Hamburg who makes a living by selling forged artworks crosses paths with a terminally ill picture framer who is desperate to leave his family with a respectable inheritance. The two become embroiled in an assassination plot which will give them the riches they desire. Dennis Hooper oozes menace in Wim Wenders’ slow-burning existential neo-noir based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1974 novel Ripley’s Game.

Wim Wenders Classic Season

Reviews

‘By refusing to explain Ripley, this gets closer to Highsmith’s character than any other film version.’
★★★★
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The American Friend between July 23, 2022 and July 27, 2022.

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What else is on?

Today (Friday 16th October)

15:00

Extra Geography 15

Descriptive Subtitles

1h 34m

In their final year at an early-2000s boarding school, two best friends set themselves a mission: to fall in love with their geography teacher. Molly Manners' freewheeling comedy drama is a funny, warm-hearted portrait of female friendship.

17:15

Queen at Sea 15

2h 1m

Amanda walks in on her mother Leslie and stepfather Martin in an intimate moment. It seems consensual, but Leslie has advanced dementia. Lance Hammer's follow-up to Ballast stars Juliette Binoche and Tom Courtenay. Berlin Silver Bear Jury Prize winner.

20:00

The Craft

Tomorrow (Saturday 17th October)

15:30

Better Go Mad in the Wild 15

1h 24m | Czech w/ English subtitles

Two ageing brothers live as hermits in a crumbling farmhouse near the Czech-German border, arguing, making up, and singing ballads to chickens. Narrated by a slaughtered bull, Miro Remo's award-winning film is a funny, tender portrait of seclusion and brotherhood.

17:45

Extra Geography 15

1h 34m

In their final year at an early-2000s boarding school, two best friends set themselves a mission: to fall in love with their geography teacher. Molly Manners' freewheeling comedy drama is a funny, warm-hearted portrait of female friendship.

20:00

Queen at Sea 15

2h 1m

Amanda walks in on her mother Leslie and stepfather Martin in an intimate moment. It seems consensual, but Leslie has advanced dementia. Lance Hammer's follow-up to Ballast stars Juliette Binoche and Tom Courtenay. Berlin Silver Bear Jury Prize winner.

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Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!