Review of The Third Man (1949) by Steve A — 20 Dec 2011

Can't think of another movie whose score works so singularly in attempt to ruin the entire flick as this movie's god-awful zither score. There are some great things about this film, including the camera angles, the lighting, the ferris-wheel scene, and the development of the mystery up until the point where we learn exactly how long Harry lived after the car accident.

I also suppose it needs to be appreciated as a document of the times, with its cynical take on what must've been a prevailing world attitude, especially in the West post-WWII, that good times were ahead.

I can respect all that well enough. Somehow, as Holly's world seems to crumble around him, I found myself less gripped by the story as it wound down. The sewer-chase scene is good. I dunno, guess I have conflicted feelings.

I see my main man Roger Ebert praised the score, in fact singled it out as something uniquely great about this movie. Well, haven't read others but I'm sure Ebert's not alone in his point of view.

I humbly submit that it's aged awfully. Seems like something straight of Tom & Jerry hijinks but this is supposed to be a noir. I suppose one could argue that noir doesn't have to fit into rigid standards of tone to be effective, well, maybe so.

.. bottom line is I just think the music in this film grates, no resonation whatsoever with everything else the film is offering. I think the sewer chase scene in the end, where the zither music is almost completely abandoned, shows just what an awful choice it was to include the zither music elsewhere.

.. how could they find it acceptable for so many other scenes when they decided it appropriate to abandon at the climax?