The Bourne Identity

Italian fishermen pull an American with two bullets in his back and no memory out of the Mediterranean. A projector implanted in his hip leads to a Zurich safe deposit box holding cash, passports and a gun. He takes the name on the American passport: Jason Bourne. He finds he fights like an assassin and that the CIA, through a program called Treadstone, wants him dead. A German woman, Marie, drives him to Paris for 20 thousand dollars and ends up beside him. Bit by bit, Bourne remembers he failed a mission against the dictator Wombosi. He confronts Treadstone chief Conklin and quits.

1. ReferenceThe book's villain is gone

   In Robert Ludlum's novel, Bourne hunts the terrorist Carlos the Jackal. Screenwriter Tony Gilroy cut that and made Treadstone and Alexander Conklin the film's antagonists.

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2. Behind the scenesA book fan since high school

   Director Doug Liman has loved Ludlum's novel since high school. He decided to adapt it near the end of shooting Swingers in 1996, and spent years securing the rights.

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3. Behind the scenesThe screenwriter did not like the books

   Gilroy thought Ludlum's novels were poor fits for film. He only agreed to write once Liman agreed to throw out almost everything but the idea of a man who doesn't know who he is.

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