The Fallen Idol (1948)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

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 | Secret | Embassy | French | 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)

Fallen Idol one of my favorites

Fallen Idol is a great film, with all actors in fine form, especially Ralph Richardson, and including the boy. Richardon is the embassy butler married to a shrewish, domineering wife. He has an illicit, albeit discreet love affair with a beautiful young embassy secretary - you can't help but feel for them both. When the shrew is found done in by a fall down the ornate embassy staircase, the wonderful gentlemen detective types enter, ever so politely, of course. Fallen Idol is an example of the best of British movie-making: low key, sympathetic, civilized. The boy's pet snake is a nice touch. A gem; a good example of the type of fine film that I wish could be made more available here. A Graham Greene story, directed by Carol Reed - what more could we want. Another great Carol Reed 'lost' film is 'Outcast of the Islands', also with Ralph Richardson.