The Third Man (Studio Canal)

Directed by: Carol Reed

Starring: Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, Orson Wells, Allida Valli, Bernard Lee

Synopsis:

Vienna, 1949: Holly Martins (Cotten), an American pulp writer specialising in Westerns, is invited to town by his old friend, Harry Lime (Wells), with the promise of work. However when he arrives, he discovers his friend has been tragically killed, accidentally ran over whilst crossing the street.

Holly hears some nasty rumours from Major Calloway (Howard) about Harry’s dealings with the black market, but doesn’t believe them. He meets some of Harry’s associates, including his girlfriend, Anna, an actress. Everyone has a different account of Harry’s final moments – where he died instantly, or whether he said anything. Holly is able to discover that the only people present – and the person who was driving the car that hit him – were people who knew him. But one witness mentions a mysterious, third man who helped get Harry off the street. Was Harry in fact murdered, and who was the third man?

Review:

Carol Reed’s The Third man is one of those “classics” which until now had passed me by, so Studio Canal’s restored/remastered blu-ray was the first time I’d seen it.

The first thing that strikes you about the film is it’s aspect ratio of 4:3 – quite surprising in this day and age, but the correct ratio for this film.

There’s a great montage and voice-over at the beginning – as you all know by now, I’m very wary of voice-overs, but this one is vital in setting the scene and the state of affairs in Vienna. The voice-over is performed by Carol Reed himself, although the disc contains an alternative version performed by lead actor Joseph Cotten. “Everybody” was involved in the black market, we’re told by Reed - of course a situation like that does tempt amateurs …but, well, you know, they can't stay the course like a professional (said as we watch a body bobbing face down in the river).

The Third Man’s mood builds slowly. Holly arrives at Harry’s funeral and a number of different people take note of him for different reasons – All but Anna, who is too preoccupied by her grief to care. Holly tried to make sense of what has happened by talking with those who were there – but that soon leads to mystery as everyone has a different spin, and everyone is trying to make him leave the situation alone. Carol Reed uses tilted camera angles to illustrate when things aren’t quite right, to give the viewer the same sense of unease as Holly.

There are two very distinctive features to The Third Man. First is the Zither score, performed by Anton Karas - a score unlike any other, at once jolly and off-kilter. The second is the city of Vienna itself. Still being rebuilt after the Second World War, people find themselves living in bomb-damaged buildings which would otherwise be considered palaces. Anna’s apartment is a prime example, having to traverse stone steps and wooden walkways before coming to her spacious rooms. The spiral staircases, cobbled streets, cafes and general architecture all play a part in the atmosphere, especially in the scenes set at night, where the lighting throws great shadows against the stonework.

Vienna is a city divided between the British, the Russians, the French and the Germans, each in control of their own quarter, and collaborating on policing the central district. Americans are far and few between here, and Joseph Cotten’s character is played as the straight man in a world of crazy, digging where he’s not wanted.

There are so many little nuances to the performances, such as how comfortable Anna is in Harry's apartment, knowing where all his nic-nac's are. Bond fans should look out for a youthful Bernard Lee as the British Sergeant who's actually read some of Holly Martin's books.

Studio Canal's restored print of excellent quality and is likely to be the same one put out by Criterion a couple of years ago before their rights to the film ran out. A wealth of materials have been included with the Blu Ray, including:

Shadowing the Third Man (which includes details of Orson Wells' claims that he wrote the dialogue for Harry Limes)

The Third Man on the Radio

Audio commentary with Guy Hamilton (Assistant Director), Simon Callow & Angela Allen (2nd Unit Continuity)

Guardian NFT Interview with Joseph Cotton (Audio only)

Guardian NFT Interview with Graham Greene (Audio only)

Joseph Cotton's Alternate Opening Voiceover Narration

Original Trailer 1

Original Trailer 2

Stills Gallery

The Third Man Interactive Vienna Tour

Interview and zither performance by Cornelia Mayer

Verdict

As I mentioned above, The Third Man is one of those "classics" that had passed me by until now. My opinion is that it deserves that status: the script is compelling and draws you into the mystery, while Post-War Vienna is an eerie place where the shadows could easily swallow you whole.

8 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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