Review of The Third Man (1949) by Simeon D — 18 Apr 2010
The Third Man, a riveting noir film written by Graham Greene, has stunning camera-work, an exceedingly engrossing story, and monumental performances from Orson Welles and Trevor Howard. Holly Martin (Joseph Cotten), a pulp Western writer, goes to Austria to visit his friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to discover that he has been spontaneously killed in a car accident.
After attending Lime's funeral, Martin begins to mingle with Lime's close friends, Anna (Alida Valli) and Kurtz (Ernest Deutsch). Martin becomes suspicious about the nature of Lime's death and avidly investigates, only to run into many unexpected obstacles and twists.
Graham Greene is someone who you can know is going to write a good script, and it falls nothing short of greatness. The subtle wit, creative side-stories, and dramatic twists keep the film's quick pace going, which is also contributed to by Carol Reed's uncanny direction and prestigious visuals.
The noirotic cinematography is delightfully stylish by its use of cigarette smoke, street lamps, sewers, and uneven camera angles to their full advantage. Joseph Cotten leads with a typical masculine performance and Alida Valli with a typical feminine performance, but the real talent lies in the supporting cast.
Orson Welles, despite his seven minutes or so of screen time, steals the show with his egoistic charm and masterful performance. Trevor Howard and Ernest Deutsch also add masterful performances in generally minor roles.
The Third Man is a timeless black and white visual masterpiece that thrills and surprises. 100/100.
This review of The Third Man (1949) was written by Simeon D on 18 Apr 2010.
The Third Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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