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 The subtle things are just so great in this film. Mar 09, 2010
Not the greatest plot. Perhaps not the most memorable cast.
But when it comes to the subtle things, this is one of the best movies ever made.
The zither music is timeless and wonderful throughout. The camera work and direction are superb. Imagine going to art gallery and hearing background music for each piece of artwork that fascinated you. That's what watching this flick is like. There's a scene about 45 minutes into the film...no dialogue.. just Holly drinking at dance bar and getting up to buy flowers from a woman. The scene is just one that's like a fine art painting with movement and sound. I might forget what this movie was about, but I will never forget this movie.
 worth watching Feb 19, 2010
saw this at school and about 5 times since, one of the few old movies worth watching
1 of 3 found the following review helpful:
blu ray - criterion style Feb 09, 2010
I have seen some other blu ray editions of older black and white movies and they are all pretty good. This one is also pretty good, however the print as pointed out before is grainy. In fact I would say that hd does bring out the grain in any movie that were shot that way. This movie was cleaned up though from it's damaged shape that existed before, and is the same print that you'd get on the standard edition , this one is clearer than the standard edition and if it were still in print I would still say that you are better off with this blu ray edition than the standard dvd one. However, I would not spend 58.00 to get this one because people are selling it as a rare item now. It's not worth the extra money over a standard version because of this. It was worth it at 20.00 or so used over a standard priced dvd; however now that it's out of print I would say hold off unless you must have this as a blu ray edition in your collection. The film itself is one of the cinemas most influential movies and is a true classic. That being said avoid the blu ray version unless it comes back into print because the clarity is better but the grain of this movie really comes out on this version. I didn't mind it because I didn't pay some seller a overprice on it. I have read that other criterion blu rays are less grainy so it's this print that was shot that way probably. However if you can get a cheaper copy of this one on blu ray then grab it. This edition has the same bonus features including the alterante opening, several radio shows featuring Orson Welles and the Harry Lime character. And other features, It also gives a good impression of how shattered austria was after the world war but at least Austria had the soviets leave it and the whole country was allowed to become a democratic nation. The underrated Joseph Cotton also shines in this movie and it's one of his best performances. This movie is a masterpiece well worth owning in your collection but you can't expect the type of blu ray clarity that a modern movie has. However I do agree that grain should be removed from older movies if possible. But it is a better looking print than any that have been around for a long time.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
One of the real film classics Feb 08, 2010
If you are a fan of 1940s black and white film noir you're in for a real treat with "The Third Man." This film's cinamatogaphy is incredibly beautiful, as are the camera angles, the lighting, and music sound track. Anton Karas provides the zither music for the film introduction and as edge of your seat accompaniment throughout the movie, which adds to the intensity of the story. The setting for the film is post-Second World War Vienna, with emphasis put on the black market profiteering going on in that time. Here, we find out that the film's villain, an American named Harry Lime, was making scads of money from his involvement in racketeeing in watered down penicillin. There was little enough of this drug to go around to treat the severely injured. Many babies died or were suffered permanent crippling and catastrophic illnesses after having this worthless medication administered to them.
Holly Martins, an American writer of pulp fiction/dime store novels, as played by well-cast actor Joseph Cotten, arrives in Vienna on the promise of a job from his good friend, Harry Lime. Soon after Martins inquires about his friend, he is told that Lime was killed as the result of a hit and run car accident. The facts point to other conclusions. Martins meets Lime's girlfriend, Anna, as played by the beautiful Alida Valli, who has her own problems related to her status in allied occupied Vienna. Orson Welles is quite sinister as Harry Lime, while maintaining a certain amount of charm which enables him to retain a touch of undeserved sympathy. We are introduced to Orson Welles's character in a rather amusing and startling manner which adds to the film's noir appeal. Martin's loyalty to Lime can only go so far, and their relationship, as well as Lime's career, end very badly. The film's ending is very unsettling for all concerned, but this scintillating and beautifully photographed work of art, nevertheless proves to be, at least in my opinion, one of most suspenseful and satisfying post-war films ever made.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Get it while you can Dec 31, 2009
I was really pleased to be able to get my hands on this movie now that it has been discontinued. This is great movie making that proves you don't need excess violence to create suspense. Once again Criterion have done a fabulous job with the video quality of their blu ray release.
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