Adapted from
Henry James' 1877 novel,
The American stars
Matthew Modine as Christopher Newman, a
nouveau riche Californian determined to crash into European society. Falling in love with aristocratic young widow Claire De Cintre (
Aisling O'Sullivan), Christopher intends to marry the girl despite fierce opposition from Claire's formidable mother Madame de Bellegarde (
Diana Rigg) and her snobbish and titled elder brother Valentin (
Andrew Scott). Thanks to the intervention of busybody maidservant Mrs. Bread (
Brenda Fricker), Christopher comes into possession of evidence suggesting that Madame de Bellegarde may have murdered her husband -- thereby placing the enterprising young man in the position of being able to blackmail his way into a profitable marriage. A co-production of the BBC and PBS,
The American was first telecast in Britain in 1998, and in the U.S. as part of the Masterpiece Theatre: The American Collection anthology on January 3, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide