"The Third Man" 1949

Orson Wells & Joseph Cotton

  “The Third Man” 1949

Setting the Scene

In the aftermath of World War II, Vienna serves as the bleak and shadowy backdrop for “The Third Man.” The city is divided into four zones, each occupied by a different Allied power, creating a tense and uncertain atmosphere.

The Characters

 * Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) – A naïve American pulp novelist who travels to Vienna to meet his old friend, Harry Lime.

 * Harry Lime (Orson Welles) – A charming but ruthless black-market wheeler-dealer presumed dead at the film’s outset.

 * Major Calloway (Trevor Howard) – A British police officer investigating Lime’s death, who becomes suspicious of Martin’s determination to prove his friend’s innocence.

 * Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli) – Lime’s enigmatic lover, caught between grief and suspicion.

Joseph Cotton & Alida Valli

A Web of Mystery

Martins arrives in Vienna only to learn that Lime has been struck by a car and killed. Martins, refusing to believe his friend is dead, delves into his own investigation. He uncovers a web of deceit and corruption, encountering shady characters and learning about Lime’s nefarious dealings on the black market.

The Third Man Emerges

As Martins digs deeper, the enigmatic figure of “the third man” emerges. This shadowy witness, who supposedly corroborated Lime’s death, remains unidentified. The truth about Lime’s demise and Martin’s loyalty to his friend become increasingly complex.

The Third Man” explores themes of moral ambiguity, disillusionment, and the lingering effects of war. Vienna’s physical and emotional desolation mirrors the characters’ internal struggles. The film masterfully portrays the difficulty of discerning truth in a world rife with corruption and self-interest.