The Fallen Idol (1948)

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Graham Greene (story) and
Graham Greene (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 September 1948 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A butler working in the French embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy.

Plot Keywords:

Butler | French | Embassy | Secret | Ambassador

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ralph Richardson	...	Baines
Michèle Morgan	...	Julie
Sonia Dresdel	...	Mrs. Baines
Bobby Henrey	...	Phillipe
Denis O'Dea	...	Inspector Crowe
Jack Hawkins	...	Detective Ames
Walter Fitzgerald	...	Dr. Fenton
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Patterson
Joan Young	...	Mrs. Barrow
Karel Stepanek	...	First Secretary
Gerard Heinz	...	Ambassador
Torin Thatcher	...	Policeman
James Hayter	...	Perry
Geoffrey Keen	...	Detective Davis (as Geoffrey Keene)
Bernard Lee	...	Detective Hart

Also Known As:

The Lost Illusion

Runtime:

95 min | West Germany:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:16 | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (DVD rating) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Belgrave Mews, Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Although Carol Reed had an outstanding record of working with young actors, he found Bobby Henrey's short attention span very difficult to cope with. Many of his scenes were played with the young man looking at his favorite grip or electrician, and his performance was pieced together in the cutting room.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Baines: Good day, sir... In his office there, miss.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Sense of Carol Reed (2006) (V)

"No, we have to tell lies, and more lies."

Produced only a year or two before THE THIRD MAN, THE FALLEN IDOL is as good a film, and directed by the same man: Sir Carol Reed. Here we are in a claustrophobic world of an Embassy in London. The Ambassador and his wife are too busy to watch their son Phillipe (Bobby Henrey), so the boy is dropped off into the hands of the Embassy's butler Baines (Ralph Richardson). Baines' wife (Sonia Rendell) is a jealous shrew. She has reason to be jealous - Baines is having an affair with a younger woman named Julie (Michelle Morgan). Phillipe likes Baines, whom he idolizes as a strong father figure in the absence of his real father. He also likes Julie, and he dislikes Mrs. Baines. There is reason for that - in her moments of anger and jealousy she does act harshly and nastily towards Phillipe.

In pursuit of proof of her husband's infidelities, Mrs. Baines goes to incredible lengths. She even stands on a dangerous ledge to watch them. But a gust of wind causes the lower part of the window to knock her legs out from underneath her, causing her to fall two stories to her death. Enter the police (Jack Hawkins, Geoffrey Keen, Bernard Lee), who are wondering how Mrs. Baines died so violently. Baines and Julie panic, and begin trying to put together a coherent story of an accident (although they know nothing about what actually happened). They have no choice but to involve Phillipe, but this is unfortunate because the little fellow knows little about creative, consistent lying. So details of Baines' relationship with Julie come out, and the police begin to wonder that this is not an accident but murder.

The film is a gem because much of it is shot from the perspective of the boy. He has admired Baines as a honorable father figure, but he is increasingly worried for Baines and Julie and he is increasingly confused when, far from being advocates of honesty, they suggest he lie to assist them. The film does end with a degree of disillusionment for the little fellow, rather unusual for such films in general. But the disillusionment is a key to Greene's view of the world (Holly Martin's of his pal Harry Lime in THE THIRD MAN for instance, or Van Johnson's views of God and Deborah Kerr in the original THE END OF THE AFFAIR). It is a remarkably good film, and well worth watching.