The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949): USA

Reviewed by Zac Smith. Viewed on DVD.

The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949) is a film noir that came at the height of its genre. The film is set in post WWII Vienna, Austria, which has been divided into four occupation zones. Like many other film noirs, it follows a typical American man in his attempt to find justice in a world plagued by crime and deception. The themes are mainly characterized by the time the movie came out of (nestled in between the feelings of anxiety that came about after World War II, and before The Cold War). But this shifting American climate produced a film that goes beyond the politics of the time. It tells a good story of a man who tries to do what is right when everything around him seems wrong.

Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) is hell bent on discovering what happened to his friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). Holly Martins (a writer) is led by his own intuition, and answers to no one but himself. This is essential for any hard-boiled hero in a crime drama, and Cotton plays the part well. In his investigation, Holly finds that Harry Lime had faked his own death. This leads Holly to question Harry, which culminates in an amazing scene above Vienna that takes place in a ferris wheel car. Orson Welles isn’t on screen for very long, but he makes the most out of it when he is. His impassioned “cuckoo clock” speech is simply classic. Welles plays the part of the twisted ego maniac very well.

The femme fatale, Anna (Alida Valli), was also excellent in the film. Her love for Harry Lime (despite his undesirable actions) is apparent, and somehow understood throughout. She weaves together the powerful nature of her sexuality with the weakness of her attachment beautifully, providing an excellent example of a femme fatale.

This movie is a classic, but the cultural changes that time creates make the film a bit stale at times. Some lines are just plain outdated. Even so, it gives an honest and open exploration of the forces of good and evil, and what makes a man choose one path or the other. The Third Man came about during a time when film was primarily a mode of entertainment, but this movie shows us that the medium was steadily moving towards being accepted as an art form.

Ultimately, the film is a must see for anyone that enjoys a good film noir (or just a good classic old movie). If you aren’t one of those people, then it might be a little hard to sit through. Still, I think everyone will appreciate the thought that went in to this film. It is truly amazing how well the film relates to the present day in its theme. The Third Man is one of those movies that lives outside of the time and context in which it was filmed. I would definitely recommend it for anyone that enjoys a good, clean exploration of what lurks in the dark.