5 Star

What’s That in the Shadows.

This Graham Greene (The Fallen Idol, This Gun For Hire), Orson Welles (A Man for all Seasons, Citizen Kane) written masterpiece has been dubbed the greatest British film of all time, and who am I to argue against the sublime monochrome marvellous feat of cinematography by
Robert Krasker (El Cid, Brief Encounter) and direction by Carol Reed (Odd Man Out, Oliver!). This is truly a cinematic treat for the eyes and ears as StudioCanal bring us this 75th Anniversary 4K UHD package (See Below). So this is definitely the one to add to your collection.

It’s 1949 and down on his luck, American writer of Western pulp novels Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten, The Magnificent Ambersons, Gaslight) has been thrown a lifeline by his friend of twenty-years Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in that he has offered him a job in Vienna. He is expecting Harry to meet him off the train, but he doesn’t show, however he is undeterred as he has the address, so he heads off into the British quarter of the occupied Vienna. The city itself is split into separate zones each occupied by the British, French, Russians and Americans, with the city centre being a free area.

When Martins gets to Harry’s apartment, Karl (Paul Hörbiger, Königswalzer, Drei Mäderl um Schubert) the porter tells him in pidgin English that he is ten minutes late, as they have just taken the coffin away. Being a good friend, he finds out where he is being interred and attends the burial. Also in attendance are two men, that turn out to be friends of Harry, and they are Baron Kurtz (Ernst Deutsch, Der Golem, Isle of the Dead) and Dr Winkel (Erich Ponto, Schneider Wibbel, Himmel ohne Sterne). Beside them is a young grieving woman who is Anna (Alida Valli, Suspiria, Eyes Without a Face), Harry’s girlfriend. Lurking back from the graveside is Major Calloway (Trevor Howard, The Cockleshell Heroes, Pick-up Alley) and his aid Sgt Paine (Bernard Lee, Diamonds Are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun), they are with the British military and after the service, Calloway offers Martins a lift back to the city.

The Major has never heard of the aspiring writer, but Paine is an avid fan of the westerns Martins writes. The Major is in charge and he doesn’t want him around now there isn’t a job for him, but Paine is talking to Crabbin (Wilfrid Hyde-White, My Fair Lady, Let’s Make Love) who regularly holds lectures for famous authors, and he invites Martins to do a talk about his books. Now, Martins has a reason to stay and find out what happened to his friend.

What Martins finds is conflicting accounts of Harry’s death, which he has to get to the bottom of this conundrum.

Who is the third man?

This is a great opportunity to own one of the greatest films of all time, and this 4K package is the one to be on your classics shelf. With a pop-up Music Box, you will get to hear the iconic theme tune from The Third Man which is imbedded with in your DNA, you just didn’t know it. Anton Karas Third Man Theme (The Harry Lime Theme)

OWN THE THIRD MAN IN 4K UHD FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM 4 NOVEMBER.

 

 

Special Features:

• Pop-up Music Box
• 64 page Booklet with Brand New Essays
• Fully annotated Shooting Script
• Set of Artcards – The Book Covers of Holly Martins, Anna’s Passport and the original The Third Man Poster
• Poster of Brand New Artwork by Nico Delort 

Extras:

Noreen Ackland on Saving The Third Man (Excerpt from BEHP audio interview)

Behind the Scenes stills gallery

Audio commentary with Guy Hamilton, Simon Callow & Angela Allen

The Third Man – A Filmmaker’s Influence

Restoring The Third Man

Joseph Cotten’s Alternate Opening Voiceover Narration

The Third Man Interactive Vienna Tour

The Third Man On The Radio

Interview & Zither Performance by Cornelia Mayer

Shadowing The Third Man

Guardian NFT Interview – Joseph Cotten

Guardian NFT Interview – Graham Greene

Trailer