A classic suspense-filled thriller from some of British cinema’s greatest talents.
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. When his butler friend Baines (Ralph Richardson) is suspected of murdering his wife, the vital information that Philippe holds falls on deaf ears…
Director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene collaborated, as they did on The Third Man, to create this exquisitely crafted, intelligent thriller, which once more demonstrates the unique spark that these two mavericks brought to British cinema. With magnificent performances from Richardson and the child actor Henrey, and evoking comparisons with, among others, Alfred Hitchcock, this classic thriller garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay.