Rent The Third Man (1949)

4.0 of 5 from 492 ratings
1h 40min
Rent The Third Man (aka The 3rd Man) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) a naive writer of pulp westerns, arrives in Vienna to meet his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) but finds that Lime has apparently been killed in a suspicious accident. Martins, too, curious for his own good, hears contradictory stories about the circumstances of Limes' death and as witnesses disappear he finds himself chased by unknown assailants. Complicating matters are the sardonic Major Calloway (Trevor Howard), head of the British forces, and Limes' stage actress mistress, Anna (Alida Valli). Will Martin's curiosity lead him to discover things about his old friend that he'd rather not know?
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , Hedwig Bleibtreu, , , , , , , , ,
Directors:
Producers:
Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, David O. Selznick
Narrated By:
Carol Reed
Writers:
Graham Greene, Orson Welles, Alexander Korda, Carol Reed
Others:
Robert Krasker, Oswald Hafenrichter
Aka:
The 3rd Man
Studio:
Optimum
Genres:
Classics, Drama, Thrillers
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: Day For Night, 100 Years of German Expressionism, 1949: That Ealing Feeling, A History of Cricket Films, A History of Gay Cinema: According to Hollywood, Award Winners, Cinema Paradiso's 2022 Centenary Club, Drama Films & TV, Film History, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: James Mason, Getting to Know: Kenneth Branagh, Introducing a British Film Family, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Steven Soderbergh, The Third Man At 75, Top 10 British Actresses of the 1940s, Top 10 Cannes Palme d'Or Winners, Top 10 Films Set in Venice, Top 10 Films Turned Into TV Series, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films
Awards:

1951 Oscar Best Cinematography Black and White

1950 BAFTA Best British Film

1949 Cannes Palme d'Or

BBFC:
Release Date:
25/09/2006
Run Time:
100 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
Bonus:
  • The Third Man - Original Radio Broadcasts
  • Featurette on Composer Anton Karas
  • Original Trailers
  • Photo Galleries and Filmographies
  • Shadowing 'The Third Man' - 90 Minute Retrospective Documentary
Disc 1:
This disc includes the main feature
Disc 2:
This disc includes the following special features:
BBFC:
Release Date:
13/09/2010
Run Time:
105 minutes
Languages:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Subtitles:
Castillian, Dutch, French, German
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
Bonus:
  • Shadowing The third man
  • The third man on the radio
  • Audio commentary with Guy Hamilton (Assistant director), Simon Callow and Angela Allen (2nd unity continuity)
  • The third man interactive Vienna tour
  • Guardian NFT interview with Joseph Cotten's alternate opening voiceover narration
  • Interview and zither performance by Cornelia Mayer
  • Stills gallery
  • Original trailers
BBFC:
Release Date:
04/11/2024
Run Time:
104 minutes
Languages:
English, French, German
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 0 (All)
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.37:1
Colour:
B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All
Bonus:
  • Noreen Ackland on Saving 'The Third Man' (Excerpt from BEHP audio interview)
  • 'The Third Man' - A Filmmaker's Influence
  • Restoring 'The Third Man'
  • Audio Commentary with Guy Hamilton, Simon Callow and Angela Allen
  • Joseph Cotten's Alternate Opening Voiceover Narration
  • 'The Third Man' Interactive Vienna Tour
  • 'The Third Man' - On the Radio
  • Interview and Zither Performance by Cornelia Mayer
  • Shadowing 'The Third Man'
  • Guardian NFT Interview - Joseph Cotten (Audio Only)
  • Guardian NFT Interview - Graham Greene (Audio Only)
  • Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
  • Trailer

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Reviews (2) of The Third Man

Cold War Noir (spoiler). - The Third Man review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
20/06/2012

Voted by the BFI as the best ever UK film. Carol Reed directed it on amphetamines, shooting round the clock on the streets (and sewers) of Vienna. It's a nervy, pessimistic, infinitely melancholic film. There is humour, but even the rat-a-tat of irony and mustn't-grumble make do that is a given in all British films of the post-war era, is muted here.

The ambience of the divided, devastated post war Vienna is profound thanks to brilliant locations and Robert Krasker's off kilter expressionist photography. The casting of local actors in support roles also contributes. It takes about an hour for Orson Welles to appear as Harry Lime, and he gives the story a huge boost.

Joseph Cotten is a decent lead, but perhaps better with a British actor. Trevor Howard was born to snap out these terse exchanges. Best of all is Graham Greene's thrilling, elegiac script of the unscrupulous trafficker in the ruined city as it slips from the World War into the Cold War. Realistic, yet deeply poetical. The greatest original screenplay in cinema. 

This is a constant spool of brilliant scenes, from Carol Reed's opening clipped narrative overture, to the stunning coda at the cemetery. The hero not only doesn't get the girl (Alidi Valli), but she lives out her life in the memory of a psychopath... It is a  flawless work of suspense and fascinating moral complexity.

4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.

Outstanding for its time - The Third Man review by JD

Spoiler Alert
26/11/2009

For a 1949 film it is a masterpiece. It richly deserves to have won the cinematography award. I do not think modern cinematography is better, it has just got a few more tricks. The style of acting has since changed alot and mainly for the good. It is very theatrical and projected especially Orson who sometimes looks as though he is doing Bob Hope impressions. Well worth a nostalgic trip.

3 out of 5 members found this review helpful.

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