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Summary: a classic made even better with its restoration
Review: If you have never seen this movie, or if you've only seen the version which has been presented on American Movie Classics, I urge you to see this beautifully restored edition. This is the sort of movie for which DVD is the ideal medium to check out key scenes or observe the vast differences between the restored film and the original. One of the many charms of this movie is the wonderful atmosphere of post-World War II Vienna, and in the restored edition, this is really presented in all its glory. The other major improvement I noticed is the sound--of course, the zither music is one of the trademarks of "The Third Man". It's not just the music, though; the sounds of the final chase through the sewers have never been clearer. The film restorers and Criterion have created a DVD which is truly worthy of being in any collection of great films!
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Summary: A Bona Fide Classic!!
Review: Oh, what can I say about one of the greatest films ever made that hasn't already been said. "The Third Man" is a classic with a capital C. If you've never seen it, I envy your first time experiencing this masterpiece. Everything about this film is perfect. Criterion's presentation is flawless. A definite must for your collection.
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Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I love this movie.Ever since I saw it in film studies class at school it's been one of my favourite films. American pulp novelist Holly Martins(Joseph Cotten) arrives in post-war Vienna to meet his old friend Harry Lime(Orson Welles). When he discovers that Harry is dead,he decides to investigate his death and uncovers some unusual truths about Harry Lime. On the DVD intro,Peter Bogdanovich says a remarkable thing about this movie is the coming together of some really top talents allworking at their best.And you'd have to agree.The script and direction are excellent.Joe Cotten is superb as Holly Martins, Trevor Howard steals every scene he's in as the wonderfully cynical Major Calloway.Even supporting players like Bernard Lee and Wilfrid Hyde White give wonderful performances. But the star of the show has to be Orson Welles.He dominates the movie and gives the best performance of a great career.The ferris Wheel scene and the cat in the doorway scene(Both with Welles) are quite rightly classics.My favourite scene in the movie is when Holly tells Harry's girlfriend Anna(Alida Valli) that "I wouldn't stand a chance,would I?" and a single tear falls down the path of her cheek. The Third Man has been lovingly restored by the Criterion collection with great picture and sound and an interesting set of extras.A must own.
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Summary: A masterpiece --- but "surreal"?!?
Review: I take exception to the description of this movie as "surreal." I enjoy surreal movies, but this movie is not surreal, and it does a disservice to those who have not seen The Third Man to call it surreal.
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Summary: One of the Best Post War Films Ever Made
Review: Arriving in Vienna, author Holly Martins, played superbly by Joseph Cotton learns that an old friend Harry Lime, the deminuative Orson Welles has supposedly been killed in a mysterious car accident. In trying to find out what happened to his friend Martins finds himself drawn into the Post-War world of Vienna. Lime was at the heart of Blackmarket operation in the city and his death is to good too be true in the eyes of the authorities. "The Third Man" has some atonishing camera work for its time, who can forget the alley scenes and the long shadows coupled with a fantastic music score that stays in your head long after the movie is over? This is a stone-cold classic with Cotton and Welles at the helm. Well worth watching just to hear the musical score and watch Harry Lime come out of the shadows...
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Summary: One of the most amazing films of the 20th century
Review: From the very first notes of the ubiquitous "Harry Lime Theme" this film seduces with a combination of rich characterization, humor, action, and a plot that will have you going 'round in circles the first time you see it. I say "first time" because this is a keeper, it's a film you need to watch more than once. It's a film to be watched often, and shared with friends. It's a quirky piece, possibly the best film ever made by Carol Reed. The dialogue is fast and furious, so pay attention or you'll miss things. The style pays some homage to German Expressionism in its starkness and odd angles. But all technical blather aside, what you have here is a story about loyalty, and the layers of a man's personality. Who, in the end, can say they understood Harry Lime? Highest Recommendation.
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Summary: beyond film noir...
Review: I won't go over the plot as other reviewers already have. I will say that this film has the greatest, most sublime ending of any film I have ever seen. I refer, of course, to the famous long-shot of Valli walking past Cotton. No dialogue, no cinematographic pyrotechniques, just the actors, the swirling leaves, Anton Karas's zither, and what's left unsaid. Less is more, indeed...
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Summary: Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten= MOVIE MAGIC!
Review: This was the first movie with Orson Welles I ever watched. I LOVE this movie! Harry Lime is so mysterious! He's such an awesome character...I bet that Welles loved playing this role. This is a great film...all Welles fans should watch it! And if you haven't seen any Welles movies yet, start of with this one! I know that Carol Reed is the director but Orson wrote the "cookoo clock" speach not to mention helped out with a lot of the camera shots. Carol Reed is a great director, too. The 3 things which make this movie so great are--- 1st: The zither music...- i even downloaded it on Napster! 2nd: Welles as Harry Lime- i love the part when Anna says about her anti-social cat: "He only liked Harry.." and the cat runs up to a guy in the shadows...and then Cotten (Holly Martins) says: "show your face...come out of the shadows.." and then the light shines on Welles' face...and it's Harry Lime! That is a classic scene...especially the way Welles looks at Cotten! it's so great. 3rd: the plot. It's really suspenseful! The whole sewers scene is wonderful. So, if you want to get turned on to Orson Welles- watch this movie first, to gte warmed up to him...then go on to "The Lady from Shanghai" and "Citizen Kane" and his other films.
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Summary: : )
Review: War in Italy Gave us art, the Renaissance; Swiss peace? Cuckoo Clock.
Rating:
Summary: A Genuinely Great Film
Review: Filmed in post-war Vienna, "The Third Man" is filled with an atmosphere that can probably never be captured again. Carol Read's directing (evidently much influenced by the work of Orson Welles) is superbly coupled to Robert Krasker's cinematography. The "look" of the film is perhaps as much of a leading character as those played to perfection by Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. Intrigue, black market dealings, slippery Central European criminals ... it all comes together in an absorbing story centered around the mysterious figure of Harry Lime (played by Welles), charming and treacherous. The insistent zither background music is perhaps the most distinctive movie music soundtrack ever recorded. Of particular value in this DVD edition of the movie is an otional "commentary" track which is a reading of Graham Greene's original treatment for the film script, showing how the original vision became transformed into film.
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