Gothamist: The Third Man at Film Forum

daniel

Sat, 08 May 2004 17:18:19 -0500

i'm currently doing a project on this movie and i was wondering if any of you would be interested in discussing this film with me.

oliver

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 10:08:29 -0500

Arguably, "The Third Man" has the best film ending ever.

UWS Guy

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 23:32:14 -0500

This is a great movie, indeed. My wife and I were in Vienna in December and went to see it there in a theater where it runs every Friday(!)... Even more special to see it there. Just loved it... After that, we went for coffee and torte to the Hotel Sacher, which features in the movie. More interesting stuff, including info about a spinoff radio series - "The Lives of Harry Lime" - here: http://filmsite.org/thir.html

Ugarte

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 16:29:32 -0500

Thanks for the tip. I've been looking for this movie for a while.

scott partee

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 15:34:46 -0500

**Spoilerish material in here, but you really should have seen this flick already** Truly one of the greatest films. period. From the soundtrack to the cinematography to the acting to the script -- every piece is brilliant. I love the subtle touches: how Holly never says "Callahan" correctly, the look Lime gives Martin when he's "discovered," the Prater ferris wheel scene -- with its simultaneous menace, whimsy and humanity -- I could go on and on. I studied in Vienna back in 1991, and had never seen the film. I'd love to go back now and do that Third Man walk.

Dietsch

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 14:47:40 -0500

Except that the cuckoo clock is Bavarian, and not Swiss, and we all know the Germans aren't always a peace-loving people. That aside, it's a brilliant film and beautifully photographed. The ruins of Vienna are so stark and yet the city still looks lovely. Cotten and Welles have great chemistry together. It's all through their scenes in this film, but I think the best moment between them comes in Kane, right after Kane loses the race for governor. Leland gets drunk and asks Kane to send him to Chicago. His line is supposed to be "You said yourself you were looking for someone to do dramatic criticism," but Cotten flubs it: "dramatic crimatism." Welles starts to laugh, thinking the scene will be reshot, but their eyes meet and Cotten forges ahead. The scene is probably stronger with the mistake than it would have been otherwise, but it's only their mutual trust that saves it. At any rate, any chance to see these two together on screen is worth taking, and Cotten plays Martins perfectly. Magnificent film.

Jen

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 13:32:26 -0500

And the line about the Swiss? Perfect.

Mase

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 13:21:43 -0500

My father turned me on to this film. I absolutely love it as well. The zither music is fantasic, the post-war Vienna scenes are fantastic. One of the first films I bought on DVD (joining such classics as "Lucas" and "Last Starfighter). Another reason I wish I were still living in New York -- to see "The Third Man" on the big screen.

KennyBitch

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 13:21:34 -0500

Yeah that's an excellent film! A perennial favorite in my collection.

Stephen

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 13:04:45 -0500

I couldn't agree more with Gothamist's opinion of the film. Absolutely wonderful. I love how Holly Martins calls the police officer Callahan and he corrects him by saying something to the effect of "My name is Calloway. I'm English, not Irish." The last shot is heart breaking. The music is great, as well.