The film is told through the naive eyes of a diplomat’s young son, Philippe, who idolizes his father’s butler, Baines. Baines has invented a heroic persona to keep the boy entertained, and often tells him stories of his exotic and daring adventures in Africa and elsewhere, stories such as putting down a native uprising single-handed, killing a man in self-defense, shooting lions and so on.

• The Fallen Idol
• Ralph Richardson
• Michèle Morgan
• Sonia Dresdel
• Carol Reed