The Fallen Idol (movie review)

The Fallen Idol (thriller) (1948) (1 hr 35 mins)

This was the first, and arguably the best, of three collaborations between director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene, the others being The Third Man (1949) and Our Man in Havana (1959). It was nominated for Oscars for Best Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay and won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

The story unfolds over a single weekend and is told through the eyes of Phillipe, the young son of an ambassador in a foreign embassy in London. The ambassador is away but will return on Monday with his long-absent wife. The absence of Phillipe’s mother is not fully explained but there is a hint that she may have been suffering from some mental illness that cannot be openly discussed. Phillipe is left in the care of the butler, Baines (played by Ralph Richardson), and his formidable wife, the housekeeper. Phillipe has come to idolise Baines, who entertains him with made-up stories of daring adventures in Africa and other exotic locations.  

For Baines, time spent with Phillipe is an escape from a loveless marriage. Baines is also developing a relationship with a younger woman, Julie, who is the embassy secretary. When Phillipe sees them together in a cafe, Baines tells him that she is his niece. They take Phillipe to the zoo and he begins to view Julie as an intruder, a threat to his special relationship with Baines. 

After Baines has an argument with his wife, she falls from an upstairs landing and is killed. It is an accident but Phillipe thinks Baines has murdered her and when the police arrive to investigate he tries to protect his hero, which only serves to make the police suspicious. The tension builds as Phillipe becomes increasingly desperate to help Baines but each step he takes seems to make things worse. 

Graham Greene regarded this as the best film adaptation of his work and it is certainly an excellent film, with richly-drawn characters and masterful direction that makes full use of the vast spaces within the embassy. Richardson gives a measured performance as Baines, conveying a man trapped in an unhappy marriage and trying to make the most of life. Phillipe is also an interesting character. Neglected by his parents, he forms a strong attachment to Baines but feels sidelined by Julie’s appearance in his hero’s life. When the police arrive on the scene, his need for attention transfers to the police and he threatens to disrupt the investigation. 

The film is tightly-plotted and skilfully builds up the suspense as Phillipe struggles to comprehend the adult world which surrounds him. 

Rating: 10/10