The Third Man on DVD (1949)

All-time best?

A customer from Dorset, UK. , 23/04/2004

This is an exciting Graham Greene film about post second world war corruption in occupied Germany.

It's many years since I saw it and I remembered it as very good, but on second showing I rate it as perhaps the best film of all.

It can't be flawed. The acting is superb and the choice of actors so right. The locations - wonderful. The photography brilliant.

What a story, and presented with never a dull moment - only the last shot was slow and how right that was - I wanted it to go on forever!

Orsen Welles is great, but Joseph Cotten? - surely a perfect performance.

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A savagely satirical slice of noir

Tinderbox from England , 12/06/2004

Despite keeping things slightly more straightforward than in Graham Greene's novella, Carol Reed's production still creates a rich tapestry of satire and mystery in occupied Vienna.

The main character, Holly Martins, is a bumbling dreamer: he thinks he can solve his friend's murder in the same way as a sheriff in one of his throwaway paperback novels.

It's clear from the off, however, that he is out of his depth; Reed uses shadow to such a masterful extent that we end up seeing more in the dark recesses of the city than in the exposed light.

A brilliant performance from the seductive, satanic Orson Welles; an unforgettable chase sequence in the sewers; a final shot that purposely avoids a comfortably happy ending. This film is a master class in ambiguity, while working as a suspense thriller in its own right.

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The ultimate Film Noir classic

Elchiefio from Dorset , 28/04/2004

This film has everything you want from the Film Noir genre, twisted camera work, beautiful contrast between light and shadows and a plot that keeps you guessing and suspecting everyone involved, right till the end.

Some excellent plot twists and brilliant hard headed, well written characters that will make you smile and shiver.

If you are unfamiliar with the genre there is no better film to introduce you. If you’re in the mood to play detective, get this film!

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They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

boymike from London , 19/11/2003

What struck me most about this ‘classic’ of British cinema is how underwhelmed I felt when it finished. Let me be the first to say … this is a great film but certainly doesn’t warrant its reputation.

We occupy the shoes of Holly Martins as he arrives in Vienna upon the death of his friend Harry Lime; unpeeling the layers of the mysterious circumstances that led to his death. The film is a joy to watch as every answer leads us deeper into the mystery. Carol Reed manages to take a fairly straightforward plot and fill it with dark corners and post-war paranoia.

The film is populated by rich and believable characters and beautifully written dialogue. However, whilst this is a technically a very slick film it doesn’t feel like a classic. The Byzantine plot really is no more than smoke and mirrors on which to hang a myriad of interesting characters and it never really delivers the punch it promises.

If you are a fan of well-constructed crime drama then this is highly recommended.

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All time classic film

A customer from Merseyside, England , 11/08/2005

No matter how old (or young) you are - if you love watching great films you'll love it. The acting is second to none - the cinematography is amazing - the different lighting is very atmospheric and the story holds its own, even today. If you like special effect movies (and not much else) this might not be the film for you (judging by some other reviews for this film here) but it's just an all-time classic film.

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Masterpiece

A customer from Scarborough, North Yorks , 15/02/2004

One of the finest films ever made - proving British cinema at its best could rival and surpass anything Hollywood had to offer. The writer, Graham Green; the director, Carol Reed; the entire cast headed by Orson Welles; black-and-white Vienna and the unforgettable soundtrack...treats like this are rare as hen's teeth, so sit back and treasure every cinematic moment!

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