Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)
The Third Man (1949)

Genre: Film-Noir
Director: Carol Reed
Starring: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard
Duration: 104 min.
Rating: 9.0

Summary:
An American pulp writer arrives in post-WWII Vienna only to find that the friend who waited for him is killed under mysterious circumstances. The ensuing mystery entangles him in his friend's involvement in the black market, with the multinational police, and with his Czech girlfriend.



The LAMB Movie of the Month for July is The Third Man.  The 1949 classic film-noir directed by Carol Reed.  Often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, it is currently #29 on theyshootpictures.com's The 1,000 Greatest Films list.  This is one that I haven't got around to watching, so its selection as MOTM was a perfect opportunity to catch up.

Right away, it's not difficult to tell why this film is so loved.  As we hear the fantastic zither music played by Anton Karas, while the opening credits play over a mesmerizing close up shot of the instrument's strings vibrating.  We then get an introduction to post war Vienna via voice over and a montage that hints at the amazing cinematography to come.

As the movie plays on, a few other things become apparent.  The story itself is only mildly interesting, but everything around it stands out to make this a great film.  The acting is top notch, from the leads, Joseph Cotten and Alida Valli, who turn their characters into believable fleshed out people, and Orson Welles who brings an amazing presence in his rather brief screen time.  His entrance standing in the shadows of a doorway with a cat by his feet is simply one of cinematic perfection.  The script was also very well written with some great exchanges of dialog, in particular one scene aboard a Ferris wheel overlooking the city.

But the best aspect of the film is its incredible atmosphere.  Led by stunning cinematography, setting the mood with scenes of a bombed out cityscape, shots taken from unique angles, and clever use of contrasting light and shadows.  Great use of sound effects throughout, especially those of footsteps in the dark, and the unique and ever present sounds of the zither playing score.  All contributing to an atmosphere that comes together masterfully in the film's climax, an incredible chase sequence that takes place in the tunnels and corridors of Vienna's underground sewer system.  Also very noteworthy is the breathtaking closing shot of the film, a perfectly framed and executed sequence of Valli walking down the tree lined street towards the camera amidst continuously falling leaves.

Chances are, I probably haven't written anything that hasn't already been said countless times before, and while it hasn't become an instant favorite, it really is a beautiful must see classic that stands up to the test of time.  Especially if you see the glorious Criterion Blu-Ray restoration.

The Third Man (1949)


The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

10 comments:

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I've never caught this one on TV before, but if I ever run in to it from now on I will probably stop to watch it again.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Disregard that trailer, it does a poor job of selling the film. 

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Interesting, I'll have to look that one up.

Jason said...

Best British film of all time in my opinion and an example of how to adapt a story for the big screen. I always watch this when it's on television. Nice review.

d_4 said...

The trailer doesn't appeal very much, but  I'm just brainwashed into modern ones. It sounds beautiful, so  I'll put it on the list. I won't expect much, just in case.

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

I never got around to seeing this movie but I still remember an episode of Law & Order when they referenced the ferris wheel scene.

Guy Movie Blogger said...

One of the best thrillers of all time. Good choice.

Brian Vs. Movies said...

I know the episode you're referring to.  I think the episode is titled "Fluency."  It's a much better homage to the film than the Law & Order: SVU "The Third Guy" episode.

FilmMasterT said...

I can't wait to check this film out. Terrific blog you have here also! i love the presentation and the html codes you have used to design some parts. Very good job :) You now have a new follower.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks, and welcome to the blog!

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