The Fallen Idol (1948)

Second viewing; first seen on December 22, 1994

Based on the short story The Basement Room, by Graham Greene, first published in 1936.

The young son of the French Ambassador in London is very attached to his house's butler, and gets mixed up in the latter's affair with a young French woman.

This turned out to be quite different from what I remembered, that is, the story of a young boy's shattered belief in a childhood hero. In fact, the whole affair is much more casual than that, and the boy seems to be much more resilient than my recollection implied. And the film is after all a comedy, if you employ a wide definition of the term. The mind of children is an important element, but I am not inclined to consider it as the film's main theme. In my view, the child here serves mainly to amplify the old theme of relationships, lies and ironic endings. It is very well filmed and well acted.

Rating: 60 (up from 50)