The Third Man is set in post war Vienna. The war stricken city acts as a backdrop for the black market deeds that were rife in cities across Europe in the 1940's. The Third Man focuses on one of the perhaps more sinister events of this era.

The story is thick with themes of morality, survival and judgement. These were all topics that would have been on the minds of citizens everywhere in wars aftermath. when everybody was trying to get by. The political stanze of the film is played down alot but the structure for a debate on super powers is definately evident within the film. The city is split into 5 sectors russian/british/american/french and the international sector in the middle of it all.

It is evident that the actors and actresses that were chosen to play the lead characters were well thought out (this can also been seen in the extras in the dvd) For example the high and mighty Orson Welles playing the imoral blackmarket fiend. His personality shining through, his ego entwined with the character's.

i thouroughly enjoyed this film and suggest anybody who enjoys a 'not your average noir' to go and buy it.

'The Third Man' (Reed, 1949) set in post war Vienna and highlights the crumbling morality of the time. This political noir is established as being under rule of WW2 allies (Britain, France, America and Russia) following the geo-political history well though the political context is used mainly as an atmospheric backdrop; it does shade the film’s characterisations, and to my understanding is a fairly accurate depiction of post war Vienna.
An American writer of pulp western novels, Holly Martins, arrives in Vienna on a work offer from an old school friend Harry Lime. Once there he learns that Lime was killed in a car accident. Unconvinced by official accounts, he remains in Vienna to explore the strange circumstances behind Lime’s death. Once their he meets Harry's ex-girlfriend Anna Schmidt who is living in Vienna using illegal papers Harry supplied her with. Continuing on with the film Holly learns the truth about Harry's life. At first sceptical, he slowly comes to accept the harsh truth of Harry Lime as a ruthless black marketer involved in the underground trafficking of stolen, diluted penicillin (that caused the death of many sick children). The film concludes with a mercy killing from Holly to Harry, after Harry realised their was no escaping.
'The Third Man' is a fine example of British film noir. Reed uses gothic visual touches such as subtly canted low/high camera angles, ominous shadows, and dank, fog-filled streets to depict Vienna as a sinister maze.

The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed, is a british film noir that plays on the key elements that make a movie a film noir and as a result create stylish camera work mixed with a gripping plot.

The story begins when bumbling american Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) enters a recently bombed out Vienna to see an old friend (orson Wells) about a job offer, only to find out he was killed, and the facts dont add up. So with the help of his friends wifes and a british soldier, Holly attempts to work out the riddle surronding 'the third man.'

With te sterotypical plot lines of corruption and murder and the stereotypical key characters like the 'femme fatale' This film seems like another run of the mill film noir, however on second glance this film is nothing short of a work of art. All the shots are planned out so perfectly so even the slightest tilt of the camera can deliver a feel for the sate of mind or senario the film and its actors are portraying. The Cast are all superb and convincing, with some very memorable adlibbed parts on orson wells' behalf. And the bouncy zither musc makes every scene stand out

great film.. shame about the advert.