The Fallen Idol (1948)

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Graham Greene (story) and
Graham Greene (screenplay)
(more)

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

US Showtimes:

Nuart Theatre

7:30pm

(personalize)

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
John Ruddock	...	Dr. Wilson
Hay Petrie	...	Clock Winder
Dora Bryan	...	Rose
George Woodbridge	...	Police Sergeant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ethel Coleridge	...	Housekeeper (uncredited)
Nora Gordon	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Ralph Norman	...	Policeman (uncredited)
James Swan	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Carol Reed

Writing credits
Graham Greene		(story "The Basement Room")
Graham Greene		screenplay
Lesley Storm		additional dialogue
William Templeton		additional dialogue

Produced by
Philip Brandon	....	associate producer (as Phil Brandon)
Alexander Korda	....	executive producer
Carol Reed	....	producer

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Georges Périnal		(as Georges Perinal)

Film Editing by
Oswald Hafenrichter

Makeup Department
Dorrie Hamilton	....	makeup artist
Joe Shear	....	hair stylist (as J. Shear)

Production Management
Hugh Perceval	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Hamilton	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Hawkesworth	....	assistant art director
Vincent Korda	....	set designer
James Sawyer	....	set designer
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Ben Hipkins	....	sound editor
Red Law	....	sound recordist
Bert Ross	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
W. Percy Day	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Judy Jordan	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Denys N. Coop	....	camera operator (as Denys Coop)

Music Department
Hubert Clifford	....	musical director (as Dr. Hubert Clifford)

Other crew
Peggy McClafferty	....	continuity (as Peggie McClafferty)

Production Companies

• London Film Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1948) (UK) (theatrical)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rialto Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Criterion Collection, The (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)

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:

Madeleine Gal Henrey, mother of Bobby Henrey, appears briefly at the very end of the film as Phillipe's mother.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

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

Classic Greene

This film has almost been forgotten and isn't available on DVD. It was produced the year before the same principals (Graham Greene and Carol Reed) made The Third Man and delves into some classic Greene themes.

The POV is told almost completely through the eyes of a boy who wants to protect his beloved friend and butler Baines. In the process, he almost ensures that Baines will be charged with murder.

It's wonderfully staged so that the boy gets to witness all kinds of adult stuff, but doesn't completely understand what he's seen.

Ralph Richardson is great as Baines and there is genuine suspense in whether the boy will tell the truth or lie and whether either will help his friend.