Review The Fallen Idol

The film was based on a Graham Greene’s book titled “The Basement Room".
The film starred:
o Ralph Richardson as Baines
o Michèle Morgan as Julie
o Sonia Dresdel as Mrs. Baineso Bobby Henrey as Phillipe
It was directed by Carol Reed in 1948 whereas the book was first published in 1935.
The Fallen Idol is the disturbing story which talks about a youngboy, whose father is a French-speaking country ambassador, caught up in the games of secrets and lies that adults play. Left by his parents in the care of their butler and housekeeper,Baines, and his wife, Philip realizes too late the danger of lies and dishonesty. But he will soon find out that the truth is even deadlier that the secrets.
With this book I thinkthat the author was trying to entertain the readers and to frighten them a little bit, but at the same time, in some occasions, make them laugh. In my opinion, he has managed toachieve the objective that I think that he proposed, otherwise, if the objective of the author in what he was trying to do or to transmit is not one of them, the book didn’t diffusewhat he wanted.
There are two big differences between the book and the film and one important detail that they have in common, which is the fact that Phillips lies deteriorate thesituation where Baines and Emmy or Julie (depending if we are talking about the movie or about the book) are stuck in. And the two huge differences between both the book and the film arethat in the book Baines really murders Mrs. Baines, but in the film he, actually, doesn’t kill his wife; and the other important difference that there is between them is the factthat in the film if it wasn’t because of a Phillip’s mistake Baines wouldn’t start to be a suspect for the death of his wife; but in the book, Baines is a suspect right from the start.