Hollywood in 1947 wasn't just about glitz and movie stars. It was dirty. If you've played through the Traffic desk in Rockstar’s detective epic, you know exactly what I’m talking about. L.A. Noire The Fallen Idol is the final case before Cole Phelps gets his big promotion to Homicide, and honestly, it’s probably the most disturbing mission in the first half of the game.
Most people think of Traffic cases as boring hit-and-runs. Fender benders. Drunk drivers. This case starts that way, but it spirals into something way darker. You're dealing with blackmail, drugged teenagers, and a prop shrunken head. Yeah, a shrunken head.
The Setup: A Crash That Wasn't an Accident
It starts with a Chevy Styleline plunged off a cliff at a construction site. Simple, right? Wrong. When you get down there, you find a prop shrunken head jammed under the brake pedal. That’s not a mechanical failure; that’s attempted murder.
The victims are June Ballard, a washed-up actress, and Jessica Hamilton, a fifteen-year-old girl who is clearly out of her element. June is acting loopy—drugged, basically—and Jessica is terrified.
Clues You Can't Afford to Miss
If you want those five stars, you have to be meticulous at the crash site. Don't just talk to the coroner and leave.
- Check the trunk. You’ll find underwear and a letter from mother. It’s the letter that really hammers home how young Jessica is.
- The shrunken head is under the steering column. Examine it closely.
- Talk to the coroner. He’ll give you the head to look at, which reveals a prop shop connection.
Why the Interrogations Are So Tricky
Interrogating June Ballard is a lesson in frustration. She’s arrogant. She’s "big in the industry," or so she claims. When you ask her about the Doping Allegation, she’ll lie through her teeth. You need to hit Doubt (or Bad Cop in the remaster) because while you know she's high, you don't have the hard evidence yet.
Then there’s Jessica at the hospital. This is where the game gets heavy.
Jessica is a victim of a "screen test" that was actually a setup for something much worse. When you ask her about Evidence of Criminal Abuse, use Truth. She’s a kid. She’s scared. Being a "Good Cop" here is the only way to get her to open up about Mark Bishop.
The Secret Room at Silver Screen Props
The case eventually leads you to Marlon Hopgood’s prop shop. Hopgood is a creep. There’s no other way to put it. He’s the guy who films these "screen tests" to blackmail wealthy men.
Finding the secret room is the turning point. You have to walk outside, past the dumpsters, and look for a section of the wall that looks... off. It’s actually a painted fake wall. Cole will kick it down, revealing a hidden camera room.
Inside, you find the smoking gun: an empty film canister labeled with the names of the victims and Mark Bishop. This connects the crash, the drugs, and the blackmail in one neat, disgusting bow.
The Final Showdown at the Jungle Drums Set
The climax of L.A. Noire The Fallen Idol is a massive shootout at an abandoned movie set. It’s a complete departure from the slow-paced detective work you’ve been doing.
Mark Bishop—the guy everyone has been looking for—is hiding at the top of a rickety "Jungle Drums" set. The set is literally falling apart as you climb it. Once you reach him, you realize he isn't the villain; he’s a pawn who got in way over his head with the mob.
The ensuing gunfight is intense. You’re protecting Bishop from McAfee’s goons.
Pro Tip: Use the red barrels. There are several scattered around the movie set. If you time your shots, you can take out three or four mobsters at once without wasting ammo.
Why This Case Matters for Cole Phelps
By the end of the mission, you’ve basically exposed a massive pedophilia and blackmail ring running out of a prop store. But does Cole get a medal? Not really. He gets a promotion, sure, but the higher-ups just want the whole thing buried.
It’s the first real taste of the systemic corruption that defines the rest of the game. You did the work, you found the truth, and the L.A. establishment just wants to look the other way because it involves powerful people.
How to Guarantee a 5-Star Rating
Getting a perfect score on this case is notoriously difficult because of the vehicle damage. Between the tailing mission (following June Ballard to the cafe) and the final shootout, it’s easy to rack up city property damage.
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- Let Bekowsky drive. Seriously. Unless you are chasing someone, let your partner take the wheel. The game doesn't count his crashes against your score.
- Get the 20,000 dollar check. When you’re at Bishop’s apartment, look in the first bedroom on the left. The check is on the floor. If you miss this, you lose a massive piece of evidence for the final interrogation.
- Correct Interrogation Branches: * June Ballard: Doubt, Lie (Underwear), Doubt, Doubt.
- Jessica Hamilton: Lie (Underwear), Lie (Letter), Doubt, Truth.
- Gloria Bishop: Doubt, Truth, Lie (Check), Doubt.
- Marlon Hopgood: Lie (Chloral Hydrate), Truth, Lie (Film Canister), Lie (Check).
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
If you’ve already finished the case but didn't get the "The Shadow" trophy, you need to go back and redo the tailing mission. You have to follow June Ballard without being spotted once. Stay about two car lengths back and use the "incognito" feature at the cafe immediately.
Also, check the newspaper at Silver Screen Props. It's on a workbench near the fake wall. These newspapers are easy to miss but are essential for understanding the overarching plot involving the Suburban Redevelopment Fund.
Once you wrap this up, get ready. Homicide is a completely different beast, and the cases only get grimmer from here.