IMDb > The Third Man (1949)
The Third Man
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The Third Man (1949) More at IMDbPro »

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The Third Man (1949) -- Arriving in Vienna, Holly Martins learns that his friend Harry Lime, who has invited him, recently died in a car accident.
The Third Man (1949) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 28% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Carol Reed
Writers:
Graham Greene (story)
Graham Greene (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Third Man on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 September 1949 (UK) more
Tagline:
Carol Reed's Classic Thriller more
Plot:
Arriving in Vienna, Holly Martins learns that his friend Harry Lime, who has invited him, recently died in a car accident. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
Time for Lime more (307 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Joseph Cotten ... Holly Martins
Alida Valli ... Anna Schmidt (as Valli)

Orson Welles ... Harry Lime
Trevor Howard ... Major Calloway
Bernard Lee ... Sergeant Paine
Paul Hörbiger ... Karl - Harry's Porter (as Paul Hoerbiger)
Ernst Deutsch ... 'Baron' Kurtz
Siegfried Breuer ... Popescu
Erich Ponto ... Dr. Winkel
Wilfrid Hyde-White ... Crabbin
Hedwig Bleibtreu ... Anna's Old Landlady
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The 3rd Man (USA) (poster title)
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Runtime:
104 min | USA:93 min
Country:
UK
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The original script included a return appearance by Charters and Caldicott, the two English cricket enthusiasts who first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938), and later in Carol Reed's Night Train to Munich (1940). However, the two characters were streamlined into the role of Mr. Crabbin, played by Wilfrid Hyde-White. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Harry Lime's sewer scenes were shot in two locations (in UK studios and on location in Vienna's sewer). In the Vienna sewer location scenes you can see Harry's breath.In the sewer shots done in UK you cannot see his breath. more
Quotes:
Martins: Listen, Callahan!
Calloway: Calloway. I'm English, not Irish.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Oliver's Travels: Do We Look Like That (#1.5)" (1995) more
Soundtrack:
The Third Man Theme more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "The Third Man" based on a novel?
Who was the third man?
more
10 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Time for Lime, 18 June 2004
Author: Galina from Virginia, USA

Who was Harry Lime (Orson Welles)? An evil man, devil in the flesh who was responsible for the unspeakable crimes, yet brilliant, cheerful and charismatic. His most famous words, a short speech written by Welles himself, say a lot about his character and motivations:

"In Italy for 30 years under the Borgies they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

No wonder, we like him, even though we know what he'd done…

It has been said thousands of times about the greatest movie entrance ever – but what about his 'exit' – the fingers on the street? I think it is one of the greatest, too…

A beautiful mysterious girl with tragic past was in love with him and the unforgettable ending, so anti–Hollywood, so true to the film - was about her love that goes beyond the grave. I read that both Selznick (the producer) and author Graham Greene had initially argued for something more upbeat (Holly and Anna walking off arm-in-arm), but Reed disagreed. I am so happy that Reed won (I am sure millions of fans are, too). That was the way to finish the movie and make it much more than just typical noir. Makes the viewer think about love, friendship, betrayal, loyalty, the price one pays for them.

Amazing film - perfectly shot; almost flawless. It looks and feels like Welles himself could've made it. The influence of Citizen Kane is undeniable. The only problem I had – the music. I like it but it was very strange to hear it in the film like The Third Man. Maybe that was a purpose – instead of somber, moody, and ominous music that would be expected for the noir film, something completely different and out of place – cheerful but melancholy in the same time…

Criterion DVD is wonderful – the restored version of the film shines. There are two openings of the film available – British and American, and a lot of extras.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Remake of Third Man on the way jetlag31
Mystery or Love story? xoddie
Joseph Cotton... theusualsuspect957
Holly Martins Too Involved? aikenrc89
Disappointing deadman1206
Comic relief: Dr Winkel as you haven't seen him before anocan
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