The Fallen Idol

2/8/2017

It's a great life if you don't weaken. The Fallen Idol (AKA: The Lost Illusion) is directed by Carol Reed and adapted to a screenplay by Graham Green from his own short story called The Basement Room. Additional dialogue was scripted by Lesley Storm and William Templeton, the music is by William Alwyn and Georges Périnal is the cinematographer. It stars Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henrey, Michèle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel and Denis O'Dea. Film is told thru the eyes of Phillipe (Henrey), the young son of a diplomat living at the French Embassy in London. With his parents often away from home, Phillipe has latched onto the family butler, Baines (Richardson), for friendship and guidance. Baines regales the boy with fanciful tales of adventure, but in truth Baines himself is unhappy, stuck in a

3/30/2025

“Phillipe” (Bobby Henrey) lives a privileged life as the young son of an ambassador, but he frequently finds himself neglected and dependent on the friendship of their butler “Baines” (Sir Ralph Richardson) who helps keep him occupied. With his father away on his latest trip, the youngster discovers his friend having tea with a woman he calls his niece. Whilst we can appreciate quite clearly that “Julie” (Michèle Morgan) is a little more than that, “Phillipe” is too young and is quite excited to be sworn to secrecy so “Mrs. Baines” (Sonia Dresdel) doesn’t learn of their meeting. Back at the embassy, “Mrs. Baines” proves to be quite a suspicious character and sets a bit of a trap that ends up tragically involving the police and tests of loyalty all around. It’s quite a simple story, this on