The Third Man

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1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

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93 Reviews

Tomatometer

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50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Set in postwar Vienna, Austria, "The Third Man" stars Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, who arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to find him dead. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Maj. Calloway (Trevor Howard) and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna (Alida Valli).

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Critics Consensus

This atmospheric thriller is one of the undisputed masterpieces of cinema, and boasts iconic performances from Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles.

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FoxyRoxie D

Comprehensively outstanding and a work of genius. The film is peerless and is a template for the understated, the quiet, the timing and the brief glimpse into the soul of despair. I suppose it's the dialogue - Graham Greene - and the Catholic requirement for spiritual closure to allow you to move on. But watching Holly waiting for Anna as she walks down the cemetery road makes you realise that life will never be the same. The B and W shades, the angles and the shadows empathise with the monochromatic world of resignation that only the lost will know. It's not known as the greatest film ever made for nothing. It is something, believe me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

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Alec C

Sometimes you think you know a person, only to learn that you never knew him at all! Holly Martins travels to Austria to visit his old friend Harry Lime, only to learn that he has died, which brings to light some disturbing truths about his friend that makes his trip a lot more complicated. Shot in visually striking setting, this intriguing noir manages to make its mark on cinema forever!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

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Jay H

Excellent performances by the entire cast.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

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Jamie P

Great classic nostalgia. A definite must watch if you are a fan of Orsen Wells. Or just a classic film fan

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

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Torin F

THE THIRD MAN is understandably a classic, and holds up remarkably well today. Its influence is so pervasive that the film feels familiar, even on first viewing, and while the plot doesn't offer many surprises, the cinematography really is incredible.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

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Yash B

"The Third Man" is a really good example of good filmmaking for its time. The performances are good and there is a focus on storytelling. I liked the intrigue set up by the beginning of this movie quite a bit and think the movie relies heavily on a slick and engaging atmosphere. I think the finale is exciting and well-made, but I'll be honest I'm not sure I loved the direction the story took. I can safely say it subverted my expectations, but maybe the setup just made me expect something else. Nonetheless, this is a really cool movie that is paced a lot quicker than many older films and one that is definitely well made, and also likely influenced many crime thrillers to come down the line.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

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Carol Reed

Director

Orson Welles

The Third Man

Joseph Cotten

Holly Martins

Trevor Howard

Major Calloway

Alida Valli

Anna Schmidt

Paul Hoerbiger

Porter

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The Third Man: Trailer 1

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Richard L. Coe

Washington Post

It’s all neatly sewn together and recalls the early Hitchcock spy chasers, The Lady Vanishes and the 39 Steps. The playing is fitted nicely to the director’s and writer’s specifications and there are some appealing portraits limned by Austrian actors.

Jul 26, 2022

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Ed Potton

Times (UK)

Seventy years on such sombreness seems timely, as does Harry Lime, Welles's deliciously elusive antihero.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 8, 2019

Full Review

Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Krasker's camera reveals a dank, matte, defeated city - so dully vivid as to be a character unto itself - except that this Vienna becomes something altogether different seen at night or underground.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 6, 2015

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Roger Moore

Movie Nation

The perfect thriller

Rated: 4/4

Jan 20, 2024

Full Review

Vernon Young

The Hudson Review

These means to fluidity, surprise, and persuasion, combined with the unreal reality of war-stripped Vienna and the incidental locales... give the whole film a percussive fluency, like a plausibly scripted nightmare.

Jan 18, 2024

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

The preeminent film noir of all time.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Set in postwar Vienna, Austria, "The Third Man" stars Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, who arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to find him dead. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Maj. Calloway (Trevor Howard) and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna (Alida Valli).

Director: Carol Reed
Screenwriter: Graham Greene, Alexander Korda, Graham Greene
Distributor: Spiegel Media GmbH, Continental Home Vídeo [br], Warner Home Vídeo, Selznick International Pictures, British Lion Films Ltd., Vintage Video
Production Co: British Lion Film Corporation, London Film Production
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 1949, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $447.0K
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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