''All Fall Down'' is a 1960 novel by

James Leo Herlihy James Leo Herlihy (; February 27, 1927 – October 21, 1993) was an American novelist, playwright and actor. Herlihy is known for his novels ''Midnight Cowboy'' and '' All Fall Down'', and his play ''Blue Denim'', all of which were adapted ...

, which was adapted into a 1962 film of the same name directed by

John Frankenheimer John Michael Frankenheimer (February 19, 1930 – July 6, 2002) was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films. Among his credits were ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1962), ''The Manchurian Candidate'' (1 ...

Plot introduction

The wealthy Williams family is torn apart from within once they invite Echo in.

Explanation of the novel's title

The novel's title is meant to draw attention to the effect of the self-motivated, destructive passions unleashed within the family home in the course of its story.

Plot summary

When the hedonistic Berry-Berry Williams deserts his pregnant lover, Echo O'Brien, his younger brother Clinton's blind faith in him shows signs of waning, while his parents are disgusted by Berry-Berry's actions. The book goes back and forth from third person to first person (Clinton's diaries).

Characters

*Berry-Berry Williams – protagonist *Clinton Williams – younger brother to Berry *Ralph Williams – father *Annabel Williams – mother *Echo O'Brien – family guest who becomes pregnant by Berry

Film adaptation

*The 1962 film, directed by

, stars

Eva Marie Saint Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American actress of film, theatre and television. In a career spanning over 70 years, she has won an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, alongside nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Brit ...

as Echo O'Brien,

Warren Beatty Henry Warren Beatty (né Beaty; born March 30, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker, whose career spans over six decades. He was nominated for 15 Academy Awards, including four for Best Actor, four for Best Picture, two for Best Director, ...

as Berry-Berry,

Karl Malden Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor, who according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun aut ...

as Ralph,

Brandon deWilde Andre Brandon deWilde (April 9, 1942 – July 6, 1972) was an American theater, film, and television actor. Born into a theatrical family in Brooklyn, he debuted on Broadway at the age of seven and became a national phenomenon by the time he comp ...

as Clinton and

Angela Lansbury Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury (October 16, 1925 – October 11, 2022) was an Irish-British and American film, stage, and television actress. Her career spanned eight decades, much of it in the United States, and her work received a great deal ...

as Annabel.

Release details

*1960, USA, Dutton ?, Pub date ? ? 1960, Hardback *1961, UK, Faber and Faber , Pub date ? December 1961, Hardback *1970, UK, Sphere , Pub date 16 July 1970, Paperback *1990, USA, Donald I Fine , Pub date ? September 1990, Paperback Novels by James Leo Herlihy 1960 American novels American novels adapted into films E. P. Dutton books 1960 debut novels {{1960s-novel-stub