The Fallen Idol (1948)

Carol Reed/ Graham Greene collaboration tells the story of the young son of the French ambassador to England, his near worship of the household butler, and a death under suspicious circumstances. From its embassy setting, to the anchoring performances of both Ralph Richardson as butler Bains, and young Bobby Henrey as Philip, to its various subtleties and insights into lying and childhood, the film's a real treat. Though its sixty years old I felt as if I was seeing something new. Bobby Henrey's performance is so naturalistic, so true to childhood, its barely even a performance (apparently director Reed did all sorts of things from games, and tricks, to repeating takes until all artifice was drained out of the young lad, to get what he wanted on screen, and it was very worth it (interestingly Henry went on to be a chaplin). The ending doesn't completely work, but here the mystery is secondary to the performances and the well executed awkwardness and tension of the films final half hour. Recommended.