The Third Man (1949)

"The Third Man" is a classic British noir, spawned from a collaboration between director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene. The film -which is considered one of the greatest films of all time- was met with critical acclaim when it was first released, and is still loved by many for it's dark yet humorous tone.

Adapted from the novella of the same name (written by Greene in preparation for the picture), "The Third Man" follows Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a pulp Western author. Martins arrives in postwar Vienna looking for his childhood friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), hoping he can provide him a job. However, to Holly's dismay, he learns Lime is dead after an accident. Not convinced the circumstances surrounding Harry's death are as innocent as proclaimed, Martins searches for a "third man" who might hold the truth to what happened. Along the way, he must work around the interfering British officer Maj. Calloway (Trevor Howard) as well as avoid falling in love with Anna (Alida Valli), Harry's ex-partner. Whilst this is the main plot, it is arguable that the film also comments on how physical, personal and political conflict have on society.

Shockingly, I hadn't heard of Carol Reed before viewing this film. It's rather embarrasing, as "Oliver!" (1968) (which is also directed by Carol Reed) is one of my favourite films. The two classics share a key characteristic; a lighthearted atmosphere masking a sinister undertone underneath, one that ultimately comes to the surface. This must have been intentional, as they both won prestigious awards during their respective awards seasons. "The Third Man" picked up the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival and the BAFTA for best British film, whilst "Oliver!" bagged him the Oscar for best director, the BAFTA for Best Film and the Special Prize at the Mosco International Film Festival. Impressive, to say the least.

This film is full of compelling characters, only heightened by the flux of exceptional performances. Joseph Cotten gives Martins much personality and likability, which adds a lot to the film. After all, why would we route for a protagonist we don't like? A more complex character would be Harry Lime, played fantastically by Orson Welles. Lime is a character shrouded in darkness; we learn about him through other characters as the narrative progresses. This forces us to find the truth alongside Martins, aligning us with him as we are all unclear. Visually, "The Third Man" excels. It would be wrong to not address the obvious parallels between this film and the -only just emerging- French New Wave. From being shot on location to snippits inside vehicles, this film screams Jean-Luc Godard. It's safe to say that this film is visually ahead of it's time. In addition, there are several beautifully shot sequences, many highlighting destroyed buildings, most likely due to World War II. Of course, it would be wrong of me if I didn't mention one of the most ICONIC film themes ever written in this review. Simply named "The Third Man Theme", the zither (written and performed by Anton Karas) is the entire soundtrack for the film. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way! I can't really say anything other than it's an absolute classic.

Overall, this film is stunning. With jaw dropping performances from some of the best names in cinema, along with a visual style ahead of it's time, "The Third Man" is a must-see for every film noir fan. If you like Hitchcock, this film is for you. I originally was going to give it 4 stars, however the more I wrote the quicker I realised I couldn't fault the movie. Therefore, I give this mysterious and enigmatic film 5 stars. It's no wonder British Film Institute named it as the greatest British film of all time in 1999. You have to watch this.