Rating: 
Summary: A True Masterpiece!
Review: This film is almost universally hailed as one of the best ever made (#2 all-time on Roger Ebert's list, behind "Citizen Kane"). I just want it known that this DVD presentation is INCREDIBLE! Fantastic picture quality! This film has never looked so beautiful or sounded so great. Alot of wonderful still photographs from the set of the film and that great zither score. A film buffs complete delight. Forget VHS -- DVD is it!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor transfer from Criterion
Review: Usually reliable Criterion here does a great disservice to a classic movie. The dark mood created by Robert Krasker's famous black and white photography is wrecked by a transfer that is too bright and without the proper contrast. Those who remember the great look of this movie from seeing it in the theatre will be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Top Ten Film
Review: " The Third Man" only gets better with age if thats possible. Alida Valli was never more striking.Please to notice the great cinematography of this film..to say nothing of its startling dialogue as noted in previous reviews. Much has been said about the final scene where Valli walks by Holly Martins...that long long take.. Please to see " The Man Between" 1955 ..another Carol Reed gem.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies Of All Time!
Review: This movie is extremely entertaining and has great direction, one of the best and most famous scores in film history, superb acting, memorable dialogue and moody atmosphere, Orson Welles is in it too. If you love movies this is a must-see. The dialogue between Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten is memorable. One of the All Time Greats. From a scale of 1-10 I give it a 10!
Rating:
Summary: The Zither adds to the Old World feeling
Review: This is the first DVD I purchased and it will always be among my favorites. The setting is one which has always fascinated me: post-war Vienna with its multinational police force, shady characters, architecture and statues from the days of the Strauss family, strange-looking people (including the oddest little boy I've ever seen) and an ambience of aged gilded charm with an undercurrent of intrigue and black-marketeering. Irresistable. And that's just for openers! This excellent edition has numerous extra features which anyone who loves movies will appreciate. The black and white cinematography is superb. The masterly use of the medium provides a rich texture which would be completely lost if it were done in color. I wonder if anyone nowadays could do an original black and white film which could be so very memorable and to create so many strong images without simply copying from the work of filmakers in the 30s and 40s? Joseph Cotton's performance deserves mention. This film,as is, "Citizen Kane" so associated with Orson Welles, and correctly so, that Joseph Cotton is frequently taken for granted. He played his roles in both films with naturalness and believability. I cannot think of "The Third Man" without remembering the sound of his opening narrative (a technique used to great advantage in the film dramas of movies and radio programs of the period). Happily, Criterion has also given us the abridged recording of author Graham Greene's treatment, read by actor Richard Clarke as well, so that we may be allowed to discover the differences between them. I strongly recommend this movie and this Criterion DVD in particular. Enjoy the visit into the Old World, enhanced by the uniqueness of the zither music. It reminds us of just how exotic and different is the world of Harry Lime from our own.
Rating:
Summary: Deserves its reputation as a masterpiece. Highly recommended
Review: It was with great anticipation that I viewed The Third Manrecently. I had last seen it nearly 25 years earlier. At the earlierviewing I was impressed with the atmospheric treatment of Vienna and the mystery surrounding Joseph Cotton's search for the truth about his friend Harry (Orson Wells). However, though I then thought of it as a very fine movie, I did not think it would rank in my top 20. Now I see what I missed as a younger person. I can also see why this film would rank as number one on a British list of greatest films of the 20th century. The film is a surreal examination of the tension between loyalty, love, and friendship on the one hand, and truth and justice on the other. The Viennese are suffused with the cynicism of a destroyed continent and damaged culture. The British know only about the truth and justice side of the equation. The American writer of simple westerns still is naïve enough to care about friendship and truth, and follows both wherever they lead. At the same time, Carol Reed scarcely shoots a scene in which there are right angles. Nearly everything is tilted. Close-ups of faces exaggerate their features. The black and white of the film emphasizes the shadowy nature of the story and its moral underpinnings. This magnificently filmed and wonderfully acted masterpiece has remained in my mind for days after seeing it. If you are a lover of cinema and not merely of movies, please get this classic. It richly deserves its reputation. Highly recommended. END
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Summary: I like the Zither
Review: The score is probably one of my favorite parts...
Rating: 
Summary: SUSPENSE
Review: Suspense is the key in this fine drama. Most cannot figure out the story till is almost over. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. DVD should make it shine.
Rating:
Summary: One the best uses of DVDs
Review: For anyone like me who has enjoyed movies all his life, the Criterion Collection has given us a superb gift. They have produced a completely satisying restoration of "The Third Man" with so many special features, that I feel they have actually enhanced more fully my enjoyment of a film I have viewed many times, over the years. Aside from being a great example for film schoolers to study for techniques, it illuminates a particular period in history as well as the period in film art. It was the first film I viewed today when my Amazon order of DVDs arrived. After seeing it, I felt I had to come right to the computer share my enthusiasm with you. This is a wonderful example of what great black and white films could do so extremely well. The film is truly a work of art. Regarding the zither: I can only say as a musician, and lover of many exotic and ethnic atmospherics, I found the zither music to be an enhancement and by no means, a detriment. Joseph Cotten is great in the part of Holly Martins. In fact, the cast was excellent. Even when one supporting actor, a soldier working for Trevor Howard gets shot dead, we feel a loss because even his small part added much to the richness of the characterizations. I have always believed that when an entire cast looks good, one should always give the director great deal of the credit. Carol Reed deserved and undoubtedly received high praise for this work. There is not much I can say about Orson Welles that hasn't been said. He was always wonderful. All in all, it was a brilliant film with lots of great special features such as the radio productions, alternate openings, and more. If you love good films, I don't know how you could resist this one. This what DVDs should be used for.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a suspense thriller by any stretch of the term
Review: I've just completed viewing Criterion's version of THe Third Man. For thier work in restoration, they deserve a 10; it is a glorious print. I still have vivid scenes of Vienna in my mind. This was the first time I had ever seen this movie and I have to be brave and honest when I say that I am left with many conflicting feelings. Cinematically, I would give the film a 5...hands down. However, emotionally, I would have to rate it far less. It is unfairly categorized as a "suspense thriller" and this it is not. A good mystery, yes, but a thriller...not at all. I NEVER felt a sense of danger or suspense throughout the movie. In this aspect, it fails in comparison to any of the Hitchcock gems or The Manchurian Candidate. I could not feel emotionally connected to its characters or its plot. I feel one of the main reasons for this is the wholly aweful and ever-present zither music...which is annoying, distracting, and largely misplaced. Not only did it fail to support or enhance the action or mood of the film, it actually killed the feel of most scenes. If I could have muted the sound of the music only...I definately would have done so upon first hearing of it. While an "interesting" choice of music for 1949, I feel strongly that it is a highly unappropriate and unfortunate choice. There is nothing but praise for Orson Welles performance. While a rather short part, he played the role with such calculating perfection, that even that damned zither couldn't ruin. And as stated before, the camera work is visually breath-taking. The final scene will remain etched in your brain for a long time. I would welcome any and all comments from those in agreement or from those who think I'm crazy. Please feel free to email me. Especially welcome would be any comments re: that zither, either pro or con. Maybe I just don't get it, but I still say that I don't ever want to hear that instrument again....as long as I live. (And I am a musician who studies and appreciates most forms of music).
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