StudioCanal has announced the release of a newly restored version of the classic British thriller, The Fallen Idol (1948) on DVD and Blu-Ray. Painstakingly restored to its former glory, The Fallen Idol is the critically acclaimed first collaboration between Oscar-Winning director Carol Reed and writer and novelist Graham Greene who, following the success of the film, would go on to work together on two further masterpieces of British cinema, The Third Man (1949) and Our Man in Havana (1959).

Based on a short story by Greene, The Basement Room, The Fallen Idol tells the story of Phillipe (Robert Henrey), the young son of a diplomat who often finds himself alone in the big embassy. To entertain the boy, the household butler, Baines (Ralph Richardson – Doctor Zhivago, Our Man in Havana), invents wildly adventurous stories about his past. The child idolises him, but when Baines’ wife (Sonia Dresdel – While I live, The Trials of Oscar Wilde) falls to her death in suspicious circumstances, a bewildered Phillipe panics and embroils himself in the investigation, with potentially disastrous consequences for his hero.

On its release, The Fallen Idol won both the BAFTA for Best British Film and The International Award for Best Screenplay at The Venice Film Festival and is still cited as being one of the most successful films to be told from a child’s point of view.

The Fallen Idol will be released on UK Blu-ray, DVD and EST on 16th November 2015 by StudioCanal at the RRP of £22.99 for the Blu-ray and £17.99 for the DVD.

Special features:

• Guy Hamilton remembers The Fallen Idol

• Locations featurette with Richard Dacre

• Interview with film historian Charles Drazin

• Interview with The Fallen Fan: director Richard Ayoade

• Restoration comparison

• Kevin Brownlow interviews Robert Henrey

The Fallen Idol is part of StudioCanal's ‘Vintage Classics collection’ – showcasing iconic British films, all fully restored. The Digital Film restoration was funded by StudioCanal in collaboration with the BFI’s Unlocking Film Heritage programme (awarding funds from the National Lottery).