Michael King, 27/04/2007
This classic film noir regularly appears close to the top of greatest films ever lists and is often referred to as the best British movie of all time. It has the advantage of being based on a story by Graham Greene one of the finest writers the UK has ever produced. The action takes place in post war Vienna. Pulp writer Holly Martins(Joseph Cotten) arrives in town to take up a job promised to him by his best friend Harry Lime(Orson Welles). Unfortunately he arrives just as Harry Lime is being buried. At the funeral Holly is informed by the military police that his dead friend was one of the worst racketeers in Vienna. Refusing to accept this he sets out with the aid of Harry's girlfriend Anna Schmidt(Alida Valli) to prove his friends innocence. As the story progresses Holly's belief falters and in one of cinemas most famous scenes he comes face to face with his "dead" friend and learns the truth. The climax filmed in the sewers of Vienna is as powerful and dramatic as any conclusion in the history of cinema. Joseph Cotten gives his usual excellent performance as an innocent man quickly getting out of his depth. Orson Welles was rarely better than in The Third Man and scripted many of his own lines including the famous "cuckoo clock" speech. A classy supporting cast including Wilfred Hyde-White, Trevor Howard and Bernard Lee give superb back up to the main players. The film also benefits from the most uniquly memorable soundtrack of any film thanks largely to Anton Karas' zither solo. This really is close to the perfect film and is fully deserving of all the accolades it receives.
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