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The Third Man

Play trailer 1:29 Poster for The Third Man Released Feb 1, 1949 1h 44m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 96 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
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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The Third Man

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One of those rare birds that improves with subsequent viewings, which is saying a lot since an initial viewing immediately pegs it as a cinematic masterpiece. Rated: 4/4 Mar 27, 2025 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film In a film born out of rebuilding the future, Green, Reed, and the entire cast produce the fatalism of idealism of what a just world should have been, but that this life is, as always, a zero-sum game. Rated: A+ Sep 4, 2024 Full Review Calum Cooper Cinerama Film Seamless in its entertainment factor and compelling long after the end credits roll, The Third Man is a cornerstone of British cinema and will be considered as such for generations to come. Rated: 5/5 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jacqueline R It was interesting and has a good twist to it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/21/24 Full Review Lam N the choice for music is baffling. really takes you out of the movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/21/24 Full Review Gary K Yes I know it's a classic. Yes I love old movies. No I did not like this film. Weird soundtrack, creepy closeups of background actors. This just didn't do it for me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Christian K Its an early, typical noir with a great setting and design. It very strangely has a soft ukulele-like score that, to me, does not fit the setting or story at all. Needed more Orson Welles for sure, he was the best and most interesting part and performer on screen for the few times he was. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review Dave S After arriving in post-war Vienna to visit his long-time friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), Holly Martins is shocked to learn that Lime has recently been killed in a car accident outside his home. However, after some sleuthing, he begins to believe that there is more to the story than one would have initially believed. Carol Reed’s The Third Man is a stylish and clever mystery, featuring an endlessly interesting story, smart writing, strong performances, and some great cinematography (including some oddly angled but effective shots) and lighting, especially in the climatic chase through the sewer system. However, you have to wonder about the music score. Apologists will somehow justify it, but the constant use of peppy tunes on the zither sucks the drama from many of the scenes, including the exhuming of Lime’s body in the cemetery sequence. It’s a shame that would should have been one of the all-time greats is marred by the annoyance of a zither. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/02/24 Full Review William B Must see movie with Welles and Cotten. Two great actors performing one of my favorites mistery movies. Outstanding ending. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, David O. Selznick
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
London Film Production, British Lion Film Corporation
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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