The Third Man
The Third Man • 1h 44m
Directed by Carol Reed • 1949 • United Kingdom
Starring Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Alida Valli
Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime—and thus begins this legendary tale of love, deception, and murder. Thanks to brilliant performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles; Anton Karas’s evocative zither score; Graham Greene’s razor-sharp dialogue; and Robert Krasker’s dramatic use of light and shadow, THE THIRD MAN, directed by the inimitable Carol Reed, only grows in stature as the years pass.
Up Next in The Third Man
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THE THIRD MAN Commentary 1
In this commentary, recorded in New York City, in 2007, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy discuss the style and lasting impact of THE THIRD MAN.
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THE THIRD MAN Commentary 2
Recorded in 2006, this commentary features film scholar Dana Polan.
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THE THIRD MAN Treatment
Novelist Graham Greene composed the first draft of THE THIRD MAN in story form. This abridged version of that treatment, recorded in August 1999, is read here by the late actor Richard Clarke. Clarke’s screen credits include A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (1958) and MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1968).