Customer Reviews

The Third Man (BFI Film Classics)

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This is a fine entry in the series of BFI guides to classic films. White basically describes the film, interrupting his description with background material. Perhaps a splendid way to enjoy this book is to watch "The Third Man" on DVD. Watch a scene, then read what White has to say, then watch the next scene.

Some of the material White brought up was familiar to me, such as the wrangling between producer Alexander Korda and distributor David Selznik, but he also brought up things I had never read before, such as the background and credits of the European performers who play Dr. Winkel, the landlord, Anna's landlady, Baron Kurtz and Popescu.

"The Third Man" is one of the great movies of all time, and this book will increase your enjoyment of it.

The whole concept of small, pithy books of film criticism is top notch. Here you have a very knowledgeable author who clearly loves and understands not only "The Third Man" but who also knows how to tell a tale.

Cannot say too much about this book. If you think you know the film, the book will add an additional layer of insight. If you have never seen the film or are too young to understand the meaning and consequences of a "black market" and moral ambiguity then this movie and book should be required reading and viewing.

To paraphrase the book, "I never saw Vienna before the war or shortly after the war either" the movie and this book shed some light that. It also makes us look at ourselves are we a Holly Martin or Harry Lime?

EXCELLENT ALL AROUND