This is by far the best film noir movie ever made. It surpasses greats like Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil or the classic Bogie and Bacall film The Big Sleep. This classic film noir stars two brilliant actors: Joseph Cotten as American novelist Holly Martin, and Orson Welles as the elusive Harry Lime. The Third Man is a brilliant film in all aspects: its story, acting, cinematography, and screenplay. Based on the novel by Graham Greene, The Third Man begins in the city of Vienna, Austria, just after the end of World War II, so it is occupied by American, French, British, and Russian troops. A novelist, Holly Martin, has been invited by his good friend Harry Lime to visit him in Vienna. When Holly arrives, he soon discovers his friend is dead. He attends the funeral and notices some mysterious people there. This is just the beginning of the strange circumstances surrounding the death of Harry Lime. On his quest to find out more information, Holly Martin seeks the counsel of Harry’s girlfriend, Anna Schmidt played by Alida Valli. She tells him about Harry’s friends in Vienna, so Holly goes to find them. Holly discovers Harry’s Vienna friends knew an entirely different Harry than Holly did. With constant badgering from the police, Holly must keep his inquiries hidden from them. He is told from Harry’s friend there were two people present at the accident scene, but Harry’s porter said a third man was present. But soon, Holly finds out the truth behind Harry’s death. This plot twist is too good to give away, but what can be said is Holly does find out dark secrets about Harry.
The Third Man represents film noir at the pinnacle of its artistic reign in the forties. The acting in it is amazing, especially by Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. Joseph Cotten’s portrayal of Holly Martin is perfect with the way he speaks and behaves. Even though Orson Welles doesn’t get as much screen time, he dominates the screen when he performs. It shows what a truly brilliant actor Welles was. Another notable performance was that of Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt. She captured the complex emotions of Harry’s girlfriend and frightened attitude very well. The other supporting actors in the film were wonderful as well, such as Major Calloway, the Sergeant, and Harry’s mysterious friends.
In addition to an outstanding cast, The Third Man has spectacular cinematography. It is shot in such a unique way with its perfect lighting, and strange angular shots that really epitomize the way film noir should look. It is done with such perfection and stylized grace, it is no wonder it won the Academy Award for best black-and-white cinematography in 1949. This brilliant photography was due to the efforts of cinematographer Robert Krasker and the director Carol Reed. Mr. Reed, who won an Academy Award for Best Director for his film Oliver! in 1968, directs The Third Man masterfully. Carol Reed directed this film in the prime of his career, and was nominated for Best Director for the film. It is truly amazing to watch his film noir masterpiece.
Along with winning the Oscar for Best Cinematography, The Third Man won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1949. The Third Man is one of the best films of all time, and is ranked number fifty-seven on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Films list. It is the greatest example of film noir from the era, and deserves to be much higher of the AFI list.
Rating: * * * *
The Third Man represents film noir at the pinnacle of its artistic reign in the forties. The acting in it is amazing, especially by Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. Joseph Cotten’s portrayal of Holly Martin is perfect with the way he speaks and behaves. Even though Orson Welles doesn’t get as much screen time, he dominates the screen when he performs. It shows what a truly brilliant actor Welles was. Another notable performance was that of Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt. She captured the complex emotions of Harry’s girlfriend and frightened attitude very well. The other supporting actors in the film were wonderful as well, such as Major Calloway, the Sergeant, and Harry’s mysterious friends.
In addition to an outstanding cast, The Third Man has spectacular cinematography. It is shot in such a unique way with its perfect lighting, and strange angular shots that really epitomize the way film noir should look. It is done with such perfection and stylized grace, it is no wonder it won the Academy Award for best black-and-white cinematography in 1949. This brilliant photography was due to the efforts of cinematographer Robert Krasker and the director Carol Reed. Mr. Reed, who won an Academy Award for Best Director for his film Oliver! in 1968, directs The Third Man masterfully. Carol Reed directed this film in the prime of his career, and was nominated for Best Director for the film. It is truly amazing to watch his film noir masterpiece.
Along with winning the Oscar for Best Cinematography, The Third Man won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1949. The Third Man is one of the best films of all time, and is ranked number fifty-seven on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Films list. It is the greatest example of film noir from the era, and deserves to be much higher of the AFI list.
Rating: * * * *
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