This is an intelligent drama-thriller with some wonderful Hitchcockian moments (the paper dart, a clock that has to be wound-up at the most inappropriate time) and themes (the difference between appearances and actual facts, a man's struggle to prove his innocence although all the indications of guilt point at him), and also a good study of how different a kid's perception of the adult world can be. The pacing is a little sluggish, however, and the child actor they chose for the part is not really the best they could've come up with. Ralph Richardson, on the other hand, is excellent. And you may be surprised to know that Guy Hamilton, the future director of many Bond films, was the assistant director here. (***)
Review of The Fallen Idol
