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The Third Man (1949)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 September 1949 (UK) moreTagline:
Carol Reed's Classic Thriller morePlot:
Arriving in Vienna, Holly Martins learns that his friend Harry Lime, who has invited him, recently died in a car accident. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(16 articles)
Passionate Movie Fans Get Their Wish for Oliver! (From ReelzChannel. 24 June 2009, 11:33 AM, PDT)
Great Films: The Third Man
(From SoundOnSight. 10 June 2009, 7:04 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A Flawless Classic moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Joseph Cotten | ... | Holly Martins | |
| Alida Valli | ... | Anna Schmidt (as Valli) | |
| Orson Welles | ... | Harry Lime | |
| Trevor Howard | ... | Major Calloway | |
| Bernard Lee | ... | Sergeant Paine | |
| Paul Hörbiger | ... | Karl - Harry's Porter (as Paul Hoerbiger) | |
| Ernst Deutsch | ... | 'Baron' Kurtz | |
| Siegfried Breuer | ... | Popescu | |
| Erich Ponto | ... | Dr. Winkel | |
| Wilfrid Hyde-White | ... | Crabbin | |
| Hedwig Bleibtreu | ... | Anna's Old Landlady |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
104 min | USA:93 minCountry:
UKColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Certification:
Iceland:12 | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 (2003) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:11 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #14125) | West Germany:12 | New Zealand:GFun Stuff
Trivia:
The tunnels featured in this film are part of the Wienkanal, which channels the Wien River through central Vienna out to the Danube River. The main tunnel is the huge arched structure through which the river flows a distance of about 1.6km. The gated side passages are connections to a wet weather sewer overflow, and the chamber with the balconies is the overflow point. The spiral staircase is one of 6 exits from the main culvert. Tours are run through the system on a daily basis. Events are occasionally held down the tunnels in commemoration of the film and its characters. moreGoofs:
Continuity: The policemen who come to arrest Anna change between shots. In dialogue scenes the British policeman is played by Geoffrey Keen. In shots of the Jeep driving to the apartment, and in long shots, a different actor is used. moreQuotes:
Martins: I guess nobody really knew Harry like he did... like I did.Calloway: How long ago ?
Martins: Back in school. I was never so lonesome in my life until he showed up.
Calloway: When did you see him last ?
Martins: September, '39.
Calloway: When the business started ?
Martins: Um, hmm.
Calloway: See much of him before that ?
Martins: Once in a while. Best friend I ever had.
Calloway: That sounds like a cheap novelette.
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
The Third Man Theme moreFAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersIs "The Third Man" based on a novel?
Who was the third man?
more
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This is a rare film that is flawless in every respect. It combines great acting and memorable characters with a fascinating story, taking place in an interesting setting and adding a creative musical score. "The Third Man" is remembered for many things - for Orson Welles' wonderful performance in his appearances as Harry Lime, for its wonderfully appropriate musical score, and for its nicely conceived plot surprises. Adding to these is Joseph Cotten's fine portrayal of Holly Martins, which holds the rest of it together - it is his character who initiates most of the action, and also through whom we view everything and everyone else.
The story starts, after a nicely done prologue, with Martins arriving in Vienna, and finding out that his friend Harry is not only dead but is accused of running a particularly destructive black market racket. Martins sets out at once to prove his friend's innocence, getting into an immediate scuffle with the police, and it seems at first to set up a conventional plot about clearing the name of a friend - but the actual story that follows is much deeper and much better. It is just right that Martins is an innocent who writes cheap novels for a living, and he gets a pretty memorable lesson in fiction vs. reality. There are some great scenes (the Ferris-wheel confrontation being as good a scene as there is in classic cinema) leading up to a memorable climactic sequence, and a good supporting cast, with Alida Valli as Anna being very good in complementing Lime and Martins. The setting in crumbling post-war Vienna and the distinctive zither score go very nicely with the story.
This is a fine, flawless classic, and while obviously belonging to an earlier era, it deserves a look from anyone who appreciates good movies.