Review of The Third Man (1949) by Andrew B — 19 Sep 2012
Holly Martins is barely off the train in Vienna when he notices that his friend, Harry Lime, who invited him there, is not at the station to greet him. In less than an hour he's realised that Lime has died in a suspicious road accident; or has he?
In a highly superior genre, this is one of the more intelligent noirs. It's got great characters, wonderful cinematography and some spot-on improvisations and musings by Orson Welles in his short but effective role. It's also got some of the best art direction you could ever see in a film, which alongside Anton Karas' incredibly memorable zither score creates an underlying sense of premonition and uncertainty, until our villain is revealed in the shadows of a Vienna street.
This is a prime and excellent example of why the 1940s and 50s was the golden age for suspicious, witty cinema that is remembered to this date.
This review of The Third Man (1949) was written by Andrew B on 19 Sep 2012.
The Third Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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