"The Fallen Idol"

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces and discusses the film and short story, "The Fallen Idol," written by Graham Greene and directed by Carol Reed. Specifically, the paper compares and contrasts the work of literature with the film, based upon plot, characterization, point of view, symbolism, and tone. It examines how there are many differences between the film and the short story and how each piece tells the story of a young boy disillusioned by the man he idolizes differently. It looks at how the film is not a complete and accurate portrayal of Greene's intent when he wrote the short story.

From the Paper:

"Each character in the book and the film plays their part extremely efficiently. Phillip is perfectly innocent and trusting until he discovers the truth about Baines, and Mrs. Baines is perfectly evil and unsympathetic. Phillip recognizes her evil even though he is young. "He never called him Master Philip as Mrs. Baines did, who was servile when she was not authoritative" (Greene 127). Of course, the characters are developed much more in the book than in the film, for the author has more time to distinguish each character's flaws and good points. Mrs. Baines comes across as even more evil in the book, because the author has more time to develop her and her idiosyncrasies."

More papers on "The Fallen Idol":

• Case Study # 52663 : "The Valley of the Fallen"
• Analytical Essay # 139390 : "Francis Bacon and the "Four Idols"
• Article Review # 144349 : "Matthew Stahl on American Idol"

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