Fallen Idol, The (DVD)
APPROX. 95 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 1948 - MPA RATING: NR
" It is this "little secret" (i.e. "this big lie") that catapults Phile prematurely out of his childhood Eden, and into the world of scheming adults.
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Unfortunately, the second half of the film degenerates into a less compelling detective story. Mrs. Baines falls to her death, and Phile, still not understanding what he sees of the adult world, fears that Baines did it. The police have the same suspicions, and much of the action of the final act involves their investigation of the crime scene. Phile tries in vain to be helpful, first by lying, later by telling the truth. He fails completely with both tactics. Doesn't anything make sense with these crazy adults?
"The Fallen Idol" is a beautifully photographed film. Cinematographer Georges Périnal (who previously worked for Michael Powell) indulges Reed's penchant for tilted angles (not as extreme as in "The Third Man" but still quite striking) and camera flourishes with aplomb. The sprawling space of the embassy which Phile calls home appears either vast or claustrophobic in different scenes. Phile's fever-delirious run through the shadowy, rain-soaked nighttime streets, shot at long distance and from high angles, is a clear precursor to Harry Lime's race through the sewers, and should put to rest any claim that "The Third Man" was really more of an Orson Welles film. Reed had a baroque style all his own.
Attention James Bond fans. Keep an eye out for a middle-aged Bernard Lee as a police detective. Stalwart Bond director Guy Hamilton ("Goldfinger," "Diamonds are Forever," "Live and Let Die") also served as assistant director on "The Fallen Idol" (as well as "The Third Man.")
Video:
The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 fullscreen aspect ratio. As with several of Criterion's recent full screen releases, the image is pictureboxed which means some viewers will se thin bars on the left and right-hand sides of the screen. However, most DVD players compensate by zooming in to display the full picture. Some resolution is lost, but most viewers (especially the majority of viewers who still watch on a tube) will never notice the difference. The transfer is clean and bright, and the black and white contrast very sharp. More Criterion excellence.
Audio:
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Mono. Optional English subtitles support the English audio.
Extras:
"A Sense of Carol Reed" (24 min.) is a 2006 documentary shot for the Criterion release. Directors John Boorman and Guy Hamilton, among others, reminisce about Carol Reed's life and career, and make an argument for a reevaluation of Reed as one of the great directors.
The DVD also includes an Illustrated Carol Reed filmography: posters and press book covers from all his film. The Original Press Book for "The Fallen Idol" is also available.
The chunky insert booklet features essays by critic Geoffrey O'Brien, writer David Lodge and Reed biographer Nicholas Wapshott.
Film Value:
"The Fallen Idol" was Carol Reed's 20th film, but arguably his first truly successful one (his previous film "Odd Man Out" (1947) might deserve this honor.) It netted him his first Oscar nomination and marked the beginning of his most productive period, with "The Third Man" to follow just a year later. Reed was later showered with glory by the Academy for his musical "Oliver!" (1968), a pleasant and entertaining film that the Academy apparently preferred to Franco Zeffirelli's brilliant "Romeo and Juliet", and an obscure little film that didn't even get a Best Picture nomination: "2001: A Space Odyssey."
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