The Fallen Idol

Many think this, next to The Third Man, is the best film Carol Reed directed.

Graham Greene wrote the screenplay, the story of a butler in a grand London ambassadorial residence who is mistakenly thought to have killed his shrewish wife (Sonia Dresdel) when she discovered his affair with a French girl (Michèle Morgan). The ambassador's son (Bobby Henrey) tries to get his friend out of trouble, but only deepens suspicions.

The acting is a little theatrical, but Reed's command of plot and camerawork is impeccable and the production design is magnificent.

The story is let down a little by the very sketchy police procedural aspect with Jack Hawkins's inspector, but in compensation there's a hilarious cameo from Dora Bryan, playing what we used to call back then 'a lady of the night'.

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