Guy Hamilton Remembers The Fallen Idol - in this archival video interview, assistant director Guy Hamilton recalls how he became involved with The Fallen Idol, and. Sorry, something has gone wrong. The team has been alerted to the error and we will fix it shortly! ×. Producer, Second Run, UK. Thundercrack! Synapse Films. The Carl Theodor Dreyer Collection BFI. The Hunchback of Notre Dame Warner Home Video. Medium Cool Eureka. The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. It is considered one of. Based loosely on the Graham Greene story, The Basement Room, ”The Fallen Idol” was the first collaboration between director Carol Reed and author Graham Green. The DVD Journal | The DVD "Missing in Action" List. So you think everything's already been released on DVD? Our readers disagree — and here's our running list of "Missing in Action" DVDs to prove it. The following are 8. DVD, discs that are sadly out of print, and platters that we would like to see re- mastered or updated. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out how to add your favorites! Share this Rating. Title: The Fallen Idol (1948) 7.8 /10. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.Quick Jump: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ2. Paces to Baker Street (1. Van Johnson and Vera Miles star in this cool thriller directed by Henry Hathaway. Days at Peking (1. Rumored to be released by The Weinstein Company in mid- 2. River Street (1. 95. Tough film noir with John Payne. Directed by Phil Karlson. United Artists. 1. Dalmatians (1. 96. Originally released as part of Disney's "Limited Issue" series in 1. Platinum Collection, which means it won't re- appear on DVD for several years, and even then only for a limited time. Ocean Drive (1. 95. Edmond O'Brien stars as a telephone worker who sets up a hugely successful betting operation in this slick film noir. Distributed by Columbia Pictures. Conquest of Paradise (1. Ridley Scott's epic retelling of the famous voyage to America, with Gerard Depardieu as Christopher Columbus. Rumors are that Paramount could release this for its 1. The 1. 95. 6 version of George Orwell's classic novel, directed by Michael Anderson, has never appeared on home video. Columbia Pictures originally produced the title, but reportedly Orwell's widow was dissatisfied with the final product.$ (1. Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn star in Richard Brooks' heist comedy. Also known as Dollars; the film rights reside with Sony. Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1. Criterion made a splash on DVD with John Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln starring Henry Fonda. Raymond Massey stars in this well- regarded tale of the man before he would be president. This will be available from Warner by 2. An Act of Love (Un acte d'amour). Anatole Litvak directs Kirk Douglas in this terrific post- World War II love story. The Admirable Crichton (U. S. title: Paradise Lagoon) (1. Kenneth More stars in this adaptation of James M. Barrie's satire of the British class system; Lewis Gilbert directs. The Adventures of Gerard (1. Jerzy Skolimowski's madcap take on Conan Doyle's Napoleonic hero, the inspiration for George Macdonald Fraser's Harry Flashman. After the Shock (1. Gripping account of the Loma Prieta Earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area on October 1. However, this telefilm cut too close to bone too soon. The rights reside with Paramount. The African Queen. Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn star in the John Huston classic, and the rights are owned by Fox. No release date announced yet in Region 1, but a Region 2 disc from Carlton Home Entertainment features a clean transfer and a commentary track from cinematographer Jack Cardiff. Easily one of our top- five MIA discs stateside. Current reports indicate that Paramount is restoring the film negative. Against All Flags (1. A fantastic swashbuckler film set in the 1. Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, and Anthony Quinn. The Alamo (1. 96. Like Gettysburg, it's out on DVD, but only in a truncated 1. The roadshow version, which ran for 1. VHS and Laserdisc. Alamo Bay (1. 98. Texas fishermen at odds with Vietnamese immigrants. Little seen drama by Louis Malle. Tri- Star. Alfred the Great (1. David Hemmings stars as Britain's first King, and featuring the film debut of Ian Mc. Kellen. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1. A popular sword- and- turban adventure from the golden age. All Fall Down (1. William Inge drama directed by John Frankenheimer. Warren Beatty plays the caddish older brother of Brandon De Wilde. Angela Lansbury and Karl Malden play their parents. Eva Marie Saint plays one of the women who falls under the Beatty spell. An MGM/UA release. All This and Heaven Too (1. Alligator (1. 98. A tiny pet alligator, named Ramone, is flushed into the sewer where it grows and grows. Scary and laugh- out- loud funny. Due from Lionsgate on Sept. Alone in the Dark (1. Donald Pleasence is the target of psychopathic Martin Landau and his partner Jack Palance in this horror thriller. An early New Line Cinema picture. America, America (1. The Amsterdam Kill (1. Robert Mitchum plays a washed- up police officer hired by the DEA to help plug a security leak in Amsterdam. Co- starring Bradford Dillman, Richard Egan, and Leslie Nielsen. Released by Columbia Pictures and Golden Harvest. The Anderson Tapes (1. Sidney Lumet's heist flick starring Sean Connery as an ex- con putting together the elaborate robbery of a swank apartment complex. Features an early role for Christopher Walken (as "The Kid"), a pioneering electronic score by Quincy Jones, and a strikingly modern use of camera technique and framing that is an obvious precursor to the styles of Guy Ritchie and his peers. Based on the novel by Lawrence Sanders. Briefly released in Region 1 but currently out of print. Released as a PAL DVD in the UK. Anne of the Thousand Days (1. This well liked Hal Wallis production starring Genevieve Bujold will debut from Universal on September 1. Mary, Queen of Scots. Annie Hall. Woody Allen's masterpiece was released by MGM in 1. Don't hold your breath. Ansiktet (The Magician) (1. Ingmar Bergman's meditation on illusion starring Max von Sydow. Anthony Adverse (1. A lost classic from Hollywood's golden years, starring Fredric March, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, and, in an Oscar- winning role, Gale Sondergaard. Warner should restore this and give it a DVD release. Anything Goes (1. Bing Crosby headlines the film adaptation of Cole Porter's musical. Universal holds the rights. The 1. 95. 6 remake (also starring Bing) is out on DVD — why not the original? The April Fools (1. He has a wife. She has a husband. With so much in common they just have to fall in love." Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve star in this romantic comedy. Arabesque (1. 96. Stanley Donen's counterpart to Charade, starring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. Universal holds the rights. Ask Any Girl (1. 95. Charming comedy starring Shirley Mac. Laine, David Niven, and Gig Young, and directed by Charles Walters. High gloss MGM. The Assault (De Aanslag) (1. A terrific Dutch World War II film from director Fons Rademakers, and winner of an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Assault on a Queen (1. Frank Sinatra stars in this movie in which con men try to pull off a heist aboard the Queen Mary. A Paramount picture. At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1. The Atomic City (1. This Cold War thriller starring Gene Barry is likely in cold storage at Paramount. The Awakening (1. Bram Stoker adaptation featuring Egyptian locations shot by expert cinematographer Jack Cardiff and a suitably daffy performance from hambone Heston. Baby Face Nelson (1. Mickey Rooney is riveting as the title anti- hero in this gangster quickie directed by the great Don Siegel. Carolyn Jones and Cedric Hardwicke (as a lush MD) offer solid support. Baby It's You (1. John Sayles' fans have been waiting for years to get this underrated (and under- viewed) film on DVD. Bachelor Flat (1. Frank Tashlin directed this somewhat strained comedy about a British professor (Terry Thomas) house- sitting in Malibu. Tuesday Weld is among the complications. Fox. Background to Danger (1. In this WWII spy thriller from Raoul Walsh, Sydney Greenstreet plots an assassination attempt in neutral Turkey in order for the country to side with Germany. George Raft is the American who can stop him. Peter Lorre co- stars as a Russian spy. In Warner's vault. Backlash (1. 95. 5)Western/mystery with Richard Widmark and Donna Reed. Universal. Bandido (1. Robert Mitchum runs guns in Mexico. United Artists. Barefoot in the Park (1. A fondly remembered theatrical rendition of Neil Simon's play starring Bess Armstrong, Richard Thomas, Barbara Barrie, and Hans Conried. Barely seen since its original run on HBO, but fans insist that it's a definitive version, in part because of the live audience, making the 1. Robert Redford and Jane Fonda seem nearly joyless by comparison. Barravento (The Turning Wind) (1. A beautiful black- and- white Brazilian cinema novo from director Glauber Rocha. Battle Circus (1. Richard Brooks' Korean War drama starring Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson may have an odd name, but it was selected after the original — M*A*S*H — was considered too confusing. An MGM production that's likely in Warner's vault. Battle in Outer Space (1. The nations of the Earth unite in a common cause to fight off the alien invaders from the planet Natal. The moon has been invaded, and the Earth is next. The Battle of the River Plate (1. WWII cat- and- mouse thriller set in South America; directed by Michael Powell. Available in Region 2. Beau James (1. 95. Bob Hope, in a rare dramatic role, portrays the 1. NYC Mayor Jimmy Walker in this flavorful Melville Shavelson production. Vera Miles co- stars, as well with some cameos by Jimmy Durante and Jack Benny. Paramount. The Bed- Sitting Room (1. Richard Lester's bizarre post- apocalyptic black comedy, starring Ralph Richardson, Rita Tushingham, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Roy Kinnear, Harry Secombe… in other words, all of his favorite actors. Everyone wanders around a bombed- out London, and unpredictably mutate into surprising objects. United Artists released the film in the U. S. — whether MGM/UA will ever actually release it on DVD is anyone's guess. Belles of St. Trinians (1. Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell in a knock- about farce set in a girl's school. Based on Ronald Searle's cartoon characters. British Lion. Benefit of the Doubt (1. Convicted wife- murderer Donald Sutherland is released from prison to seek revenge on the daughter (Amy Irving) that helped to put him away. Paramount. Berlin Alexanderplatz (1. Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1. Weimar Germany, is due in a seven- disc set from The Criterion Collection on Nov. Beware, My Lovely (1. Robert Ryan in the role of a psychopathic drifter; Ida. Lupino plays the lonely widow who attempts to both. Despite its regrettable title, one of. Beyond Rangoon (1. Beyond the Forest (1. The Fallen Idol Blu- ray (United Kingdom)Vintage Classics. Studio Canal | 1. Rated BBFC: PG | Nov 1. The Fallen Idol (1. The Fallen Idol Blu- ray features mediocre video and great audio in this mediocre Blu- ray release. A butler working in a foreign embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy. For more about The Fallen Idol and the The Fallen Idol Blu- ray release, see the The Fallen Idol Blu- ray Review published by Dr. Svet Atanasov on February 2. Blu- ray release scored 2. Director: Carol Reed. Writers: Graham Greene,Lesley Storm,William Templeton. Starring: Ralph Richardson,Michèle Morgan,Sonia Dresdel,Denis O'Dea,Jack Hawkins,Bobby Henrey» See full cast & crew. Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov, February 2. Nominated for Oscar Awards for Best Director and Best Writing, Carol Reed's "The Fallen Idol" (1. Blu- ray courtesy of Studio. Canal. The supplemental features on the disc include interviews actor Robert Henrey and assistant director Guy Hamilton; interview with film historian Charles Drazin; interview with filmmaker Richard Ayoade; featurette with historian Richard Dacre; and restoration demonstration. The release also arrives with an 1. Ryan Gilbey. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region- B "locked". The majority of the film takes place inside the French embassy in London. Here the young Phillipe (Bobby Henrey), who is the ambassador's only child, feels like a bird in a cage. The place is clean and beautiful, and there are always people around him, but most of the time he is lonely and sad. Baines (Ralph Richardson, The Sound Barrier, Doctor Zhivago), the embassy's butler, is Phillipe's only true friend. He tells him beautiful stories about his glory days in Africa and occasionally even takes him for a walk in the nearby park. Mrs. Baines (Sonia Dresdel, The Third Visitor) spends most of her time telling Phillipe what not to do and why not to do it. It is why he genuinely dislikes her and spends most of his time avoiding her. When Phillipe's father leaves for the weekend to bring back home his seriously ill mother, Baines decides to see his "niece" (Michele Morgan, Le Quai Des Brumes). Phillipe is told that he can't go out with his friend, but he secretly follows him to a nearby café and discovers him with his lover. Baines then asks him to keep their meeting a secret. And for a while he does, but then the wicked Mrs. Baines discovers the truth and vows to teach her husband and his lover a lesson they won't forget. Feeling responsible for the inevitable drama Phillipe tries to protect his friend, but only further upsets Mrs. Baines. In the ensuing chaos Mrs. Baines dies in an accident and Phillipe is forced to defend his friend yet again. This time, however, he is questioned by the family's friendly doctor and a few seasoned detectives who suspect that Baines' description of the accident is missing some crucial details. The Fallen Idol was the first of three collaborations between director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene. The other two are the classic noir thriller The Third Man and the crime comedy Our Man in Havana). Reed's film changes some key elements from the original short story - - the biggest one being the death of Mrs. Baines - - but during the years Greene repeatedly stated that it was his favorite adaptation. The bulk of the events are seen through the little boy's eyes, but his interpretation of these events is one of many. This makes quite a difference because various adult subjects emerge that effectively expand the narrative. It also helps the suspenseful atmosphere because the contrasting interpretations allow Reed to pull off numerous surprises. Henrey is the heart and soul of the film, but the professional actors around him make him shine. There is an outstanding chemistry between them that gives the film a special vibe. Richardson is at his very best as the friendly butler who wants his freedom back but does not want to compromise his lover. Morgan and Dresdel are also impressive, through their characters could not be any more different. There was apparently some tension between Reed and French cinematographer Georges Périnal, but the film's visual style is quite impressive. The footage from inside the embassy has whiffs of that very specific noir ambiance that emerged in The Third Man. Presented in an aspect ratio of 1. MPEG- 4 AVC and granted a 1. Carol Reed's The Fallen Idol arrives on Blu- ray courtesy of Studio. Canal. UPDATE: Studio. Canal have confirmed that the issue described in our review (see below) occurred during the encoding process. New discs will be pressed and a replacement service will be offered for customers on request. Folks who wish to exchange their discs must send full details to info@studiocanal. Replacement discs will be send out as soon as they are made available. Once we receive a repressed disc, one score will be adjusted accordingly. For the record, the actual restoration of the film is very good). There are some good news and some bad news about this recent release. The good news: The new restoration is lovely. Generally speaking, detail and depth range from good to very good. Because there are some obvious source limitations, there are some notable density fluctuations. Some small traces of fading and various minor scratches and blemishes remain as well. However, shadow definition is a lot more convincing and the heavy crushing from previous releases is practically eliminated. Grain exposure does fluctuate a bit, but because careful work was done to rebalance the image without affecting its integrity the film has a nice and stable organic appearance. Also, there are a few uneven transitions, but overall image stability is very good. In other words, after the digital restoration this is clearly the best this classic film has ever looked. The bad news: It appears that there is a mastering defect. I do not wish to speculate what might have happened during the encoding process, but currently there is some very obvious vertical stretching inside the 1. Especially during close- ups it immediately becomes obvious that the composition/balance inside the image frame is problematic. You can see examples in screencaptures #3, 2. I was particularly bothered by close- ups of Michele Morgan's face because the stretching is very distracting. The good news here is that Studio. Canal's master appears to be properly framed, so it should be very easy to reauthor replacement discs. In the restoration demonstration clips that are offered on the disc, the footage is properly framed in 1. You can see close- ups from the original scan, the restored scan, and the complete restoration in screencaptures #3. To sum it all up, the new restoration of The Fallen Idol is very good, but the current technical presentation is problematic. However, once the defect is eliminated, the new restoration will likely remain the film's definitive presentation on the home video market. Note: This is a Region- B "locked" Blu- ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region- B or Region- Free player in order to access its content). There is only one standard audio track on this Blu- ray release: English LPCM 2. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. Depth and clarity remain pleasing throughout the entire film. However, there is some extremely light buzz that is present in the high- frequencies. It isn't distracting, but it can be heard. There are no stability issues. Also, there are no pops or audio dropouts to report in our review. UPDATE: Studio. Canal have confirmed that a mastering defect occurred during the encoding process of their recent release of The Fallen Idol. New discs will be pressed and a replacement service will be offered for customers on request. For the record, the actual restoration of the film is very good). Studio. Canal's recent release of Carol Reed's The Fallen Idol is sourced from a lovely new restoration. However, it appears that there is a mastering defect - - inside the image frame the visuals appear slightly distorted. A detailed description of the defect is included in the technical section of our review. Once the defect is eliminated, the new restoration will likely remain the film's definitive presentation on the home video market.
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