The Fallen Idol

1948 Drama

Adapted from the Graham Greene story The Basement Room, director Carol Reed's The Fallen Idol is told almost completely from a child's eye view-but it isn't a children's story. Young Bobby Henrey idolizes household butler Ralph Richardson. Therefore, when it seems as though Richardson might be implicated in a murder, Bobby does his best to throw the police off the track. The boy succeeds only in casting even more suspicion upon Richardson. As the story progresses, Henrey's hero worship is eroded by Richardson's shifty behavior, and even more so when the boy discovers that the butler's boasts of previous heroism are just so much hot air. The ending of the film differs radically from Greene's story. While it would seem that director Reed was merely paying homage to the "happy ending" philosophy (hardly likely, given the doleful climaxes of such films as Odd Man Out and The Third Man), the director had very solid reasons for altering the story: he was more fascinated by the concept of the boy's imagination nearly sending his idol to the gallows, rather than having the butler entrapped by facts. And though the ending is happy for the boy, the butler's fate is much more nebulous. more..

Director: Carol Reed

Starring: Bobby Henrey,Ralph Richardson, Michele Morgan, Sonia Dresdel, Denis O'Dea

Reviews

  • This is an example of a writer and director working in perfect harness, with Reed smoothly ratcheting up the story's suspense and Greene speculating on his cardinal theme of moral ambiguity. They don't make movies like The Fallen Idol anymore, all the more reason to see it now while you can.

    Ann Hornaday - The Washington Post

    27 April 2013

  • Of all the movies that try to take us into the mind and viewpoint of a child, Carol Reed's 1948 The Fallen Idol, adapted by Graham Greene from his short story, is one of the most ingenious.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    27 April 2013

  • The result is a gripping film which, despite the annoying rugrat, demonstrates how part of leaving childhood behind is learning how and when to lie, and to do it well.

    Marc Mohan - Portland Oregonian

    27 April 2013

  • This is a fine example of British commercial filmmaking at its highest level of craftsmanship.

    Andrew O'Hehir - Salon.com

    27 April 2013

  • The Fallen Idol has been overshadowed by the noir comedy, giddy style, and Cold War thematics of Reed and Greene's subsequent sensation "The Third Man," but (in similarly dealing with the nature of betrayal) The Fallen Idol is actually a superior psychological drama.

    J. Hoberman - Village Voice

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Director

    Academy Awards (1950)

     
  • Best British Film

    BAFTA Awards (1949)

  • Best European Film (Bedste europæiske film)

    Bodil Awards (1950)

  • Best Foreign Film

    Golden Globes (1950)

     
  • Best Actor

    National Board of Review (1949)