The Third Man (1949)
- Starring:
- Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, (more)
- Director(s):
- Carol Reed
- Category:
- Mystery & Suspense, Foreign
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My RatingSynopsis of The Third Man
In this Cold War spy classic, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a third-rate American pulp novelist, arrives in postwar Vienna, where he has been promised a job by his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). Upon his arrival, Martins discovers that Lime has been killed in a traffic accident, and that his funeral is taking place immediately. At the graveside, Martins meets outwardly affable Major Calloway (Trevor Howard) and actress Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli), who is weeping copiously. When Calloway tells Martins that the late Harry Lime was a thief and murderer, the loyal Martins is at first outraged. Gradually, he discovers not only that Calloway was right but also that the man lying in the coffin in the film's early scenes was not Harry Lime at all--and that Lime is still very much alive (he was the mysterious "third man" at the scene of the fatal accident). Thus the stage is set for the movie's famous climactic confrontation in the sewers of Vienna--and the even more famous final shot, in which Martins pays emotionally for doing "the right thing." Written by Graham Greene, The Third Man is an essential classic, made even more so by the insistent zither music of Anton Karas. The film is currently available in both an American and British release version; the American print, with an introduction by Joseph Cotten, is slightly shorter than the British version, which is narrated by director Carol Reed. Nominated for several Academy Awards, The Third Man won Best Cinematography for Robert Krasker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 104 mins
Complete Cast of The Third Man
- Joseph Cotten - Holly Martins
- Orson Welles - Harry Lime
- Bernard Lee - Sgt. Paine
- Wilfrid Hyde-White - Crabbin
- Siegfried Breuer - Popescu
- Hedwig Bleibtreu - Anna's "Old Woman"
- Alexis Chesnakov - Brodsky
- Nelly Arno - Kurtz's Mother
- Martin Boddey - Man
- Paul Hardtmuth - Hall porter
- Herbeil Halbik - Hansel
- Alida Valli - Anna Schmidt
- Trevor Howard - Maj. Calloway
- Paul Hoerbiger - Porter
- Ernst Deutsch - Baron Kurtz
- Erich Ponto - Dr. Winkel
- Annie Rosar - Porter's wife
- Paul L. Smith - MP
- Geoffrey Keen - British Policeman
- Leo Bieber - Barman at Casanova
- Jenny Werner - Winkel's Maid
- Director(s):
- Carol Reed
- Writer(s):
- Graham Greene
- Producer(s):
- Carol Reed, Alexander Korda, David O. Selznick
- Categories:
- Mystery & Suspense, Foreign
- 1998 - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
- 1949 - Cannes Film Festival - Grand Prix
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