Mrs. Baines bangs on window which suddenly swings outward, striking Mrs. Baines, causing her to fall to her death, with her body landing at the foot of the staircase. Mr. and Mrs. Baines argue and struggle on a staircase landing. Mrs. Baines, suspecting that Philippe has been watching them argue, walks onto a ledge with an unguarded landing to see if she can spot Philippe through the window, a window which swings outward. That afternoon, Philippe is chastised by Mrs. Baines for playing on a window ledge on the staircase landing. Later that evening, Mrs. Baines returns to the house unexpectedly. Written by The two also colloborated on The Third Man and Our Man in Havana. Baines interjects and proceeds to recount to police what actually happened the night before. He lies to protect his friends, even though he knows he should tell the truth. Simultaneously, two other investigating officers notice a footprint in the spilt soil from a potted plant on a window ledge, located above the stairway and discern it came from a women's shoe. Top Contributors: Stephanie-IGN, MarkRyan-IGN, Sng-ign + more. Philippe becomes frightened, flees the house and is captured by a police officer walking his beat. 12 of 14 people found this review helpful. Ventana American Survival Guide Vol. In 1903, a doctor suspects murder in the gothic Bederaux family. Bobby Henrey, as Phillipe, is the son of the Diplomat and a boy who simply idolizes Baines who stumbles onto the information Baines is desperately hiding from his wife. A man occupies a position of trust with a merchant in an East Asian port. The Fallen Idol is the first of three films considered masterpieces to result from the legendary meeting of director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene. The Fallen Idol (159) IMDb 7.7 1 h 35 min 1949 ALL 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 who idolizes the butler. The Fallen Idol was the first of three masterpieces to result from the legendary meeting of director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene, who together would also create The Third Man and Our Man in Havana. Confusion reigns when Baines is suspected of murdering his wife and Philippe flips back and forth with the police. The Fallen Idol is a fascinating film for how it manages to develop inner turmoil. However, Ana Laura Zambrano in, "The popular cash and culture in the postwar British cinema industry", Interview with child actor Robert (Bobby) Henrey later in life, interview begins at 18:05, Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Fallen_Idol_(film)&oldid=1019949184, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 April 2021, at 09:33. The housekeeper to a retired actress tries at the same time to look after her own two emotionally disturbed sisters, with dramatic results. It was described as "one of the finest British films about children, about the ways they can be manipulated and betrayed, their loyalties misplaced and their emotions toyed with. Who can blame Baines for his covert rendezvous with the lovely Julie (Michelle Morgan) when his shrewish wife remains in the empty embassy waiting to pounce.What really distinguishes the movie is its skill at viewing adult actions through the eyes of the child. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. He is protected from arrest by his friends, but is torn by his desire for freedom outside. Philippe, the young son of a diplomat living in London, idolizes his father's butler, Baines. The young son of a diplomat, Phillipe (Bobby Henrey), often finds himself alone. But finding himself captivated by the servant's talk of exotic places, the boy is forced into making a difficult decision when … The Fallen Idol, while having been made into a movie, was not written as such. Certificate: GP Later, she attempts to glean information about her husband from Philippe, suspicious he is cheating on her. Julie joins them and accompanies them back home for dinner, believing all is safe in Mrs. Baines's absence. Ralph Richardson's butler Baines is the very last word in polished civility and stiff upper lip no matter how extreme the provocation. He lies to protect his friends, even though he knows he should tell the truth. Philippe, an ambassador's son and good friend of Baines, major domo of the embassy, is confused by the complexities and evasions of adult life. The Fallen Idol tells the story of Philippe (Bobby Henrey), the young son of a diplomat who, trying to understand the adult world as seen through the eyes of a child, lies to defend those closest to him. The three have dinner and afterward play a game of hide-and-seek. I’d previously watched the dreadful Oscar-winning musical Oliver! Baines admits they were merely games and adamantly denies killing his wife. [10] This DVD went out of print in 2010. It is based on the 1936 short story "The Basement Room", by Graham Greene. Was there ever a more civilized treatment of infidelity than this British suspenser. This May, BFI to launch US streaming service in May. A wounded Irish nationalist leader attempts to evade police following a failed robbery in Belfast. The Fallen Idol (also known as The Lost Illusion) is a 1948 British mystery thriller film directed by Carol Reed, and starring Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henrey, Michèle Morgan, and Denis O'Dea. Afterward, Baines tells Philippe that Julie is his niece and asks that he not mention the incident to Mrs. Baines. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Mr. Baines tells her to go downstairs before he loses his temper. Jim Wormold, who is a vacuum cleaner salesman, participates as an Agent in the British Secret Service. 1 Grosvenor Crescent, Belgravia, London, England, UK. Search for "The Fallen Idol" on Amazon.com, Title: Mrs. Baine accuses her husband of cheating with Julie, which Philippe partially witnesses. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Julie visits the house the following morning. Coincidentally, it was a film featuring a similar seven-year-old precocious boy. Check out our editors' picks for the best movies and shows coming this month. [4][5] According to Kinematograph Weekly the 'biggest winner' at the box office in 1948 Britain was The Best Years of Our Lives with Spring in Park Lane being the best British film and "runners up" being It Always Rains on Sunday, My Brother Jonathan, Road to Rio, Miranda, An Ideal Husband, Naked City, The Red Shoes, Green Dolphin Street, Forever Amber, Life with Father, The Weaker Sex, Oliver Twist, The Fallen Idol and The Winslow Boy. "[7], The Criterion Collection released the film on DVD on 7 November 2006. The Monthly Film Bulletin called the film "outstanding. Philippe, an ambassador's son and good friend of Baines, major domo of the embassy, is confused by the complexities and evasions of adult life. Title: Fallen Idol (27 Sep 1977) 8.1 /10. The next morning, Baines takes Philippe on a trip to the London Zoo. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director (Carol Reed) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Graham Greene), and won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film. "[3], It was one of the most popular movies at the British box office in 1948. In post-WW2 Berlin, when travel to the East was still possible, the sister of a British officer from West-Berlin is abducted by Communist agents and taken into the Soviet-sector where her eventual rescue is arranged by a German smuggler. The Fallen Idol (1948) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Crow and Ames swiftly renege their accusation against Baines. Use the HTML below. As he does this, his mother, from whom he has long been separated from, arrives at the front door. The Fallen Idol is the tale of a boy left in the care of Baines the butler and his mean-spirited wife, while the lad’s parents are off on holiday. A young rape victim tries desperately to pick up the pieces of her life, only to find herself at the mercy of a would-be rescuer. One day, when Philippe's father departs for several days, Philippe follows Baines to a small cafe, where he meets Julie to discuss their relationship. D irector Carol Reed’s brilliantly textured coming-of-age drama The Fallen Idol stands as the perfect example of collaborative filmmaking. Confusion reigns when Baines is suspected of murdering his wife and Philippe flips back and forth with the police. The bond between the lonely son of the French ambassador and the hen-pecked English butler is memorably touching and the emotional heart of the film.Director Carol Reed has basically a single set to work with. The Fallen Idol (also known as The Lost Illusion) is a 1948 British mystery thriller film directed by Carol Reed, and starring Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henrey, Michèle Morgan, and Denis O'Dea. In fact, there are numerous differences between the book and movie. The Fallen Idol Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? He worked as a tax consultant for most of his adult life while also pursuing studies toward the ministry. We may know what's up with them, but we also share the boy's puzzlement over a world he has yet to grow into. In reality, Mr. Baines has never been to Africa, is in a loveless marriage with his wife (who is also employed as the family's housekeeper) and is carrying on an affair with a young secretary, Julie. Hey guys, just thought I should let you know that I'm having a really sad day. “The Fallen Idol” has long stood in the shadows of the movie its makers made one year later. Last Edited: 13 Jul 2016 6:52 pm. This is the first of the three films that I've seen, and I must say I'm quite impressed. Philippe, an ambassador's son and good friend of Baines, major domo of the embassy, is confused by the complexities and evasions of adult life. The Fallen Idol was a massive international hit in 1948 garnering critical accolades (it was one of the National Board of Review's top ten films for 1949), major awards (it won the BAFTA for best British film and was nominated for two Oscars), and a brisk box-office business. Philippe, an ambassador's son and good friend of Baines, major domo of the embassy, is confused by the complexities and evasions of adult life. He made only one, the comedy Wonder Boy (1951), before retiring from acting at the age of 11. Its plot follows the young son of a diplomat in London, who comes to suspect that his family's butler, whom he idolises, has committed a murder. After The Fallen Idol, Bobby Henrey reportedly signed a lucrative contract with producer Alexander Korda to make four more films before 1952. [6], The Fallen Idol was included at number 48 on Time Out magazine's list of the "100 best British films", which polled critics and members of the film industry. (1948). Its plot follows the young son of a diplomat in London, who comes to suspect that his family's butler, whom he idolises, has committed a murder. Obviously, the movies of these two books were made many years ago but to read The Third man you get a real feel of an old black and white movie. The Fallen Idol follows a few days in the pleasant life of Philippe (Bobby Henrey), the son of a diplomat living in the high-ceilinged wealth of an embassy in Belgravia (Grosvenor Crescent, to be exact, where Reed later filmed 1968’s Oliver!). You just know from the start that Phillipe's pet garter snake, MacGregor, is doomed in her bleak household. Add the first question. Baines has invented a heroic persona to keep Phillipe entertained during his father's absences, telling him stories of his daring adventures in Africa and elsewhere, where he claims to have single-handedly killed men in self-defense and conquered lions. A really tragic one.See, I woke up this morning to a phonecall. As they return home, Philippe finds a telegram from Mrs. Baines, notifying Mr. Baines that she will return in two days. View production, box office, & company info. He's sacked when he's caught stealing, but he pretends to commit suicide, and a Captain he befriended agrees to take him to a secret trading post. Soon after, Inspector Crowe and Detective Ames arrive to further question Baines. L.A. Noire for Nintendo Switch - Case Guide / Walkthrough Video in Full HD with a Five Stars rating on a single play-through.L.A. Poignant, moving and memorable short story. Comedy. Graham Greene liked to say that he preferred "The Fallen Idol" (1948) to the more famous "The Third Man" (1949) because it was more a writer's film than a director's. Fearing he cannot prove his innocence, Baines heads to his basement bedroom to retrieve his pistol and commit suicide, but before proceeding downstairs he is followed by Philippe, who tearfully questions whether his many stories are true. Thus, instead of a conventional two-shot close-up of Baines and Julie in intimate conversation, Reed gives us a three-shot from the perspective of Phillipe as he watches them. The Fallen Idol. It’s earnestly interested in the point of view of a child and as such, it functions on multiple levels – that of both kids and adults. Was this review helpful to you? It is based on the 1936 short story "The Basement Room", by Graham Greene. (1968) and the stolid biopic The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), featuring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo. Julie overhears Philippe concealing the truth and conversing in French, implores him to be honest. But it's a great one with the sweeping staircase, high domed ceiling, and checkerboard tiles, all keeping the eye entertained at the same time the sinister events unfold. Those events are driven by poor Sonia Dresdel who has the thankless role of the cruel wife and housekeeper Mrs. Baines that she plays to the hilt. Julie urges Baines to separate from his wife so they can be together, but Philippe is impervious to the details of their conversation. He denies that Mrs. Baines slapped him, or that Julie ever visited the house. Once you see it, you don't forget it. [11] In 2015, StudioCanal released a region B Blu-ray edition.[12]. June Ballard - B-movie actress and driver of crashed Chevy Styleline. He tries to keep secrets but ends up telling them. They continue to disbelieve his story and suggest he make a formal statement. He lies to protect his friends, even though he knows he should tell the truth. During the interrogation, Philippe attempts to grab the telegram Mrs. Baines sent, which he made into a paper airplane, but it is confiscated by police, who uses it as evidence against Baines. "The Basement Room" (or "The Fallen Idol") is a masterpiece, in my humble opinion. 1 ℗ 2009 Filthy Hands / V Inc. Our editors have rounded up their most anticipated horror movies of the year. It also turns the emotional climax (not the dramatic) into a memorably revealing one-- a rite of passage, as it were.Anyway, in my little book, the movie qualifies as a genuine classic, placing Carol Reed in the same Pantheon as contemporary British masters Hitchcock and Michael Powell. Henrey was cast in The Fallen Idol based on a photograph of him which appeared on the dustjacket of his father's book A Village in Piccadilly. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. He lies to protect his friends, even though he knows he should tell the truth. But he soon realizes that his plans by lying are going to get him into trouble. To entertain the boy, the household butler, Baines (Ralph Richardson), creates adventurous stories of his past. Julie goes to the basement and informs Baines that the police not longer suspect him, so committing suicide is not something he should even consider. In fact, the screenplay has loaded the deck by making her such an unsympathetic figure. . This FAQ is empty. Yet he's so unfailingly kind and considerate to the boy Phillipe that he's among the most admirable of transgressors. He tries to keep secrets but ends up telling them. Denis O'Dea, Jack Hawkins and Torin Thatcher head up a group of police officials who are trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Mrs. Baines. He tries to keep secrets but ends up telling them. The new restoration of Carol Reed's THE FALLEN IDOL opens Friday May 27 at Film Forum in New York and Laemmle's Royal in Los Angeles! Crowe and Ames first interview Philippe alone. As the police depart, Philippe runs upstairs to the ledge, where he sweeps the soil away containing Mrs. Baines's shoeprint. A butler working in a foreign embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy. He tries to keep secrets but ends up telling them. And don't miss the movie, "The Fallen Idol" (1948), directed by the brilliant Carol Reed, with terrific performances by Ralph Richardson (as "Baines"), the beautiful Michèle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel and especially that wonderful young boy, Bobby Henrey (as "Phillipe"). A wanted gangster is both king and prisoner of the Casbah. The Fallen Idol was the first of three collaborations between director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene, who would later team up on the legendary The Third Man, and is a small masterpiece itself. We share that perspective throughout, which is not only an unusual one, but visually reinforces the touching bond between the child of the elite and the highly polished commoner. The Fallen Idol (1948) was one of the films that cemented his reputation and many critics rate the beautifully modulated drama-turned-intimate thriller, directed by Reed with a deft touch and a rich sense of character, as his finest film. Young Philippe is returned home, where Baines recounts the evening to police, though he eliminates Julia from his version of events in order to protect her, instead claiming that he and Philippe alone had dinner, although the table was set for three. Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', The final credits in the original British Lion distribution call the boy "Phillipe" with two lls and one p. In the tearoom scene illustrated on this page Baines says "He spells his name P-H-I-L-E, Phil." In Brighton in 1935, small-time gang leader Pinkie Brown murders a journalist and later desperately tries to cover his tracks but runs into trouble with the police, a few witnesses and a rival gang. Philippe, now compelled to be truthful, insists he left the footprint two days before, but Inspector Crowe disbelieves him. The Fallen Idol marks the first notable film Carol Reed made at Grosvenor Crescent, Belgravia, in London as a filming location — the other being Reed's acclaimed movie Oliver!, filmed 20 years later at the same site. Philippe does not witness the actual fall and presumes that Baines pushed her to her death down the stairs. BFI Player Classics Will Launch in the U.S. Use the HTML below. 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