The Third Man (1949)

American pulp-western novel writer Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) comes to post World War II Vienna to take a job with an old friend of his, Harry Lime. But upon arrival, he discovers he’s been run over by a car, and he attends the funeral of his childhood friend shortly thereafter. But as time goes by Martins finds less and less convincing, concrete evidence concerning the events surrounding Harry’s death.

 

Based on Graham Greene’s mystery novel, this classic film noir directed by Carol Reed remains one of the greatest suspense films ever made. The “Harry Lime Theme” by Anton Karas may be the reason for this, with its relentless, unforgettable and unaccompanied zither tune that will haunt you for days after seeing the film.

 

Orson Welles has a great entrance, and it’s said that he practically directed every scene that he was in. The dark tones characteristic of the film noir much improve the film’s atmosphere, and the sewer chase scene is top-notch. The special editions of the film include the original theatrical trailer.

Related Links:

• The Third Man (1949)
• The Third Man Official Site

• Dan's Movie Shrine
• Bomis: The Third Man Ring
• Roger Ebert's review
• David Macdonald's review
• Tim Dirks's review

 

Trivia about The Third Man:

 

• Orson Welles wrote all of his own lines in the picture and practically directed the scenes in which he appeared. He considered using a double for some of the sewer shots because he was asthmatic and afraid of the cold and damp air in the corridors.
• Welles also starred in a radio series, “The Lives of Harry Lime,” 1951-52, based on the early adventures of his character in The Third Man.

 

 

Quotes from The Third Man:

 

Calloway: Death's at the bottom of everything, Martins. Leave death to the professionals.

Martins: You mind if I use that line in my next Western?

 

Harry Lime: Victims? Don't be melodramatic, Holly. Look down there. Would you really feel any pity if one of those dots stopped moving - forever? If I said you could have twenty thousand pounds for every dot that stops, would you really, old man, tell me to keep my money - without hesitation? Or would you calculate how many dots you could afford to spare? Free of income tax, old man. Free of income tax. It's the only way to save nowadays.

 

Calloway: That sounds like a cheap novelette.

Martins: Well I write cheap novelettes.

 

Harry Lime: In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

 

 

Complete credited cast:

Joseph Cotten ....  Holly Martins 

Alida Valli ....  Anna Schmidt 

Orson Welles ....  Harry Lime 

Trevor Howard ....  Major Calloway 

Paul Hörbiger ....  Porter 

Ernst Deutsch ....  "Baron" Kurtz 

Erich Ponto ....  Dr. Winkel 

Siegfried Breuer ....  Popescu 

Hedwig Bleibtreu ....  Old Woman 

Bernard Lee  ....  Sergeant Paine 

Wilfrid Hyde-White ....  Crabbin