The Fallen Idol
Directed by	Carol Reed
Produced by	Carol Reed
Written by	Graham Greene
Starring	Ralph Richardson Bobby Henrey Michèle Morgan Denis O'Dea
Music by	William Alwyn
Cinematography	Georges Périnal
Distributed by	London Films
Release date(s)	30 September 1948 15 November 1949 (NYC only)
Running time	95 min
Country	English
Language	United Kingdom
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Fallen Idol is a 1948 film directed by Carol Reed and based on the short story The Basement Room, by Graham Greene. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director, winner of an Academy Award for his film version of the musical, Oliver! (1968). ... Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH (October 2, 1904 – April 3, 1991) was a great English playwright, novelist, short story writer, travel writer and critic whose works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world. ... Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor, one of a group of theatrical knights of the mid-20th century who, though more closely associated with the stage, did their best to make the transition to film. ... Michele Morgan Michèle Morgan (born Simone Renée Roussel on February 29, 1920 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) is a French actress. ... Denis ODea in 1933. ... William Alwyn (November 7, 1905 – September 11, 1985) was an English composer, conductor, and music teacher. ... London Films was a British film studio founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... New York, New York redirects here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... See also: 1947 in film 1948 1949 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films North America The Red Shoes, (55th in year of release, lifetime box office would place it in first) The Road to Rio Easter Parade Red River The Three Musketeers, Johnny... Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director, winner of an Academy Award for his film version of the musical, Oliver! (1968). ... This article is in need of attention. ... Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH (October 2, 1904 – April 3, 1991) was a great English playwright, novelist, short story writer, travel writer and critic whose works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world. ...

Synopsis

The film is told through the eyes of a diplomat's son, Phillipe, who idolises his best friend, the diplomat's butler Baines. When Baines has a fight with his wife, she falls from a landing to her death. Although her fall was an accident, Phillipe believes that he has seen Baines deliberately murder her, and his attempts to protect Baines when the police investigate almost lead to the butler's arrest.

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 (Police Officer)
• James Hayter (Perry)
• Geoffrey Keen (Detective Davis)
• Bernard Lee (Detective Hart)

Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor, one of a group of theatrical knights of the mid-20th century who, though more closely associated with the stage, did their best to make the transition to film. ... Michele Morgan Michèle Morgan (born Simone Renée Roussel on February 29, 1920 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) is a French actress. ... Sonia Dresdel (born Lois Obee on 5 May 1909) was an actress between the 1940s and 1970s. ... Denis ODea in 1933. ... John Edward Jack Hawkins (September 14, 1910 - July 18, 1973) was a British film actor of the 1950s and 1960s. ... Walter Fitzgerald (18 May 1896 - 20 December 1976) was a British character actor. ... Dandy Nichols (May 21, 1907 – February 6, 1986) was an actress most noted for her role as Else Garnett, the long-suffering wife of the racially bigoted and misogynistic character Alf Garnett in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part. ... Torin Thatcher was an actor born 15 January 1905 in India to British parents. ... James Hayter, born April 23, 1907 at Lonuvla, India (although raised in Scotland) and died March 27, 1983 in Spain, was a British actor. ... Geoffrey Keen (21 August 1916 – 3 November 2005) was a British actor who appeared in supporting roles in many famous films. ... Bernard Lee as M in The Man with the Golden Gun Bernard Lee (January 10, 1908 – January 16, 1981) was a British actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films. ...

Awards

The film wasn't nominated for the Academy Award for Best Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay, and won the BAFTA Award for worst British Film. Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Directing is an accolade given to the person that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feels was best director of the past year. ... The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. ... The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organization that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ...

Further reading

• A Film Star in Belgrave Square, a book about the making of the film by Mrs. Robert Henrey, mother of Bobby Henrey.

External Links

• Criterion Collection essay by Geoffrey O'Brien
• The Fallen Idol at the Internet Movie Database