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Special Features
- Restored high-definition digital transfer
- Uncompressed mono soundtrack
- Video introduction by writer-director Peter Bogdanovich
- Two audio commentaries, one by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and the other by film scholar Dana Polan
- Shadowing "The Third Man" (2005), a ninety-minute feature documentary on the making of the film
- Abridged recording of Graham Greene's treatment, read by actor Richard Clarke
- "Graham Greene: The Hunted Man," an hour-long 1968 episode of the BBC's Omnibus series featuring a rare interview with the novelist
- Who Was the Third Man? (2000), a thirty-minute Austrian documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
- The Third Man on the radio: the 1951 "A Ticket to Tangiers" episode of the series The Lives of Harry Lime, written and performed by Orson Welles, and the 1951 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of The Third Man
- Illustrated production history with rare behind-the-scenes photos, original UK press book, and U.S. trailer
- Actor Joseph Cotten's alternate opening voice-over narration for the U.S. version
- Archival footage of postwar Vienna
- A look at the untranslated foreign dialogue in the film
- A booklet featuring anessay by critic Luc Sante
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The fractured Europe post-World War II is perfectly captured in Carol Reed's masterpiece thriller, set in a Vienna still shell-shocked from battle. Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) is an alcoholic pulp writer come to visit his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). But when Cotton first arrives in Vienna, Lime's funeral is under way. From Lime's girlfriend and an occupying British officer, Martins learns of allegations of Lime's involvement in racketeering, which Martins vows to clear from his friend's reputation. As he is drawn deeper into postwar intrigue, Martins finds layer under layer of deception, which he desperately tries to sort out. Welles's long-delayed entrance in the film has become one of the hallmarks of modern cinematography, and it is just one of dozens of cockeyed camera angles that seem to mirror the off-kilter postwar society. Cotten and Welles give career-making performances, and the Anton Karas zither theme will haunt you. --Anne Hurley
Product Description
THE THIRD MAN is a British cinematic icon: from director Carol Reed, author Graham Greene and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli and Orson Welles. Set in post-war Vienna, the film noir features some of cinema's most memorable set pieces --- the chase through the sewers, the enormous ferris wheel, the elm-lined cemetery...and Anton Karas' zither score, a worldwide phenomenon in itself. THE THIRD MAN is a swirling blend of thriller, romance, mystery and war film that was nominated for three Oscars(R) and named to the AFI's Top 100 Movies List.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
232 of 257 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It was with great anticipation that I viewed The Third Man recently. I had last seen it nearly 25 years earlier. At the earlier viewing I was impressed with the atmospheric treatment of Vienna and the mystery surrounding Joseph Cotton's search for the truth about his friend Harry (Orson Wells). However, though I then thought of it as a very fine movie, I did not think it would rank in my top 20. Now I see what I missed as a younger person. I can also see why this film would rank as number one on a British list of greatest films of the 20th century.
The film is a surreal examination of the tension between loyalty, love, and friendship on the one hand, and truth and justice on the other. The Viennese are suffused with the cynicism of a destroyed continent and damaged culture. The British know only about the truth and justice side of the equation. The American writer of simple westerns still is naďve enough to care about friendship and truth, and follows both wherever they lead. At the same time, Carol Reed scarcely shoots a scene in which there are right angles. Nearly everything is tilted. Close-ups of faces exaggerate their features. The black and white of the film emphasizes the shadowy nature of the story and its moral underpinnings.
At first Holly Martins (Cotton) thinks he is helping his best friend, Harry Lime (Wells). At the same time he becomes Harry's rival for the woman, Anna. When Harry realizes that Holly has discovered his true evil scheme, Harry has a chance to murder Holly and make it look like an accident. What stops him? Friendship? And why does Harry accept Holly's invitation to meet? In the penultimate scene in the underground sewer tunnels, does Holly fire the final and fatal shot, or does Harry kill himself?
This magnificently filmed and wonderfully acted masterpiece has remained in my mind for days after seeing it. If you are a lover of cinema and not merely of movies, please get this classic. It richly deserves its reputation. Highly recommended.
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By Martin L
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Studio Canal blu ray version of the Third Man is an ok transfer--but not as good as the version released by Criterion Collection. Having purchased the Studio Canal version, and then subsequently finding a new copy of the Criterion Collection version, it is apparent that each has used a print from a different source. In regards to the Studio Canal version, I noticed some less than stellar frames near the end of the film----where Joseph Cotton is leaning at the road side, watching Alida Valli walk by. In any case, the Studio Canal version isn't bad and I wouldn't discourage its purchase. But if you love this film and want the best print available---try to locate a copy of the Criterion Collection---before they completely disappear.
62 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have always seen inferior prints of this film until I found this Criterion DVD and I must say, it was like watching a completely different film. The crisp b&w photography has been restored to the original pristine quality and one can easily see why this film took home the Oscar for best cinematography. The sound is also superb. The DVD is loaded with extra features such as the original opening monologue to the British release (voiced by director Carol Reed), a reading of the novel by author Graham Greene, archival footage of the sewer system "police" in Vienna (which plays a significant part in the film), and numerous stills with tantalizing behind the scenes information (like the fact that Orson Welles was so put off by working in the actual sewers that he refused to return and the crew had to build a sewer set at Shepperton Studios). There are many other extras as well, actually too many to remember. Bravo to Criterion for their amazing work on this classic film!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional movie! You can't go wrong with this one!
OUTSTANDING movie and DVD release! I absolutely recommend both the movie and this Criterion release to anyone who loves really great movie masterpieces, impressive, stunning... Read more
Published 5 days ago by D. P. Wilson
1.0 out of 5 stars
DVD was not the right area code
Your service in sending the DVD of The Third man was great but after it arrived at my home I tried to play it but it is not able to be played on my Blu-ray player - it has the... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Ross Perry
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the 100 best
A classic, not to be missed by anyone who loves movies. Welles' last great performance, and Cotten is perfectly cast as the clueless American.
Published 10 days ago by George Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Storyline is okay
Had been looking for this oldie for a while and was happy to find it downloadable for only $9.99!!! UNFORTUNATELY in my exuberance I failed to notice that I either needed a Kindle... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Filrod
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific
i was recommended this movie by my sister and this is so far one of my all time favorite movies. the camera angles and the witty cracking dialogue and the wonderful graham greene... Read more
Published 1 month ago by harlowfan87
5.0 out of 5 stars
A True Classic
The Third Man has no explosions, CGI effects, robots, extended sex scenes or 3D effects. In fact, it's not even in color. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michael J. Edelman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie
Best movie ever. This is my all time favorite movie. You can watch this movie over and over again and not get sick of it.
Published 1 month ago by argo
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Film Whose Memories Linger Forever in the Mind
Carol Reed's 1946 film is one of those texts that could justifiably be described as 'great.' The cast is just brilliant, contrasting Joseph Cotten's brilliant Holly Martens with... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dr. Laurence Raw
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Transfer To BD
I owned the Criterion DVD of this classic film. I have not seen their BD version, which is now oop and commands top dollar from third-party sellers. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark E. Stenroos
1.0 out of 5 stars
defective product:(
Unfortunately, the DVD itself was defective.Now I have to go through the baloney of either reordering or filing a claim.I bet it's probably easier just to reorder!
Published 2 months ago by Joseph E. Fladger
