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Actors: Ralph Richardson, Michèle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel, Bobby Henrey, Denis O'Dea, Jack Hawkins
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Fallen Idol |
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This movie, based on a short story by Graham Greene, was produced and directed by Carol Reed in 1948. It earned the British Film Academy award in the Best Film category in 1949.
The French Ambassador in London leaves the embassy for the weekend and consigns his son Philipe to the care of his butler Baines. If Philippe likes Baines very much, he does not appreciate Mrs. Baines whose main task seems to be after him and to search out his small snake MacGregor that the young boy must carefully hide every night. When, in the afternoon, Philipe sees Baines leaving the house, he follows him and joins up with him in a coffee shop. Baines is in the company of Julie, an employee of the embassy, whom he presents to Philipe as his niece. Julie came to bid farewell to Baines because she does not see any future in their love affair. Back in the embassy, Baines requires of Philipe not to say anything to Mrs. Baines. However, Mrs. Baines skilfully questions Philipe and learns soon the infidelity of her husband. Then, she says to Mr. Baines that she must visit her sister and leaves the house.
Baines invites Julie to pass the evening and the night in the Embassy. In the company of Philipe, the two lovers pass one marvellous evening. However, Mrs. Baines had never left the house, waiting for the right moment to creep up on her husband. At midnight, she awakes Philipe and asks him to tell her where the two lovers are. Philipe refuses and Mrs. Baines hits him. After a quarrel with her husband, Mrs. Baines accidentally falls in the staircase and dies. Philipe, who believes that Mr. Baines killed his wife, runs away from the house and is picked by the police. Mr. Baines who does not want to imply Julie in the police investigation lies to the investigators and is soon suspected of having pushed his wife into the staircases.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Fallen Idol |
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books by breaking them down into many different literary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- inconveniently married while playing footsy
Crime & Scandal
Yes
Story of
- falsely accused clearing name
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- servant
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- servant
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
Check here if B&W
Yes
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
Any profanity?
- None
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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