'The Third Man' - a great British film revisited

[Roger Dyer]

'THE THIRD MAN'

In February, 1948, following a suggestion from film producer, Alexander Korda, the British novelist, Graham Greene, went to Vienna seeking inspiration for a new book or film screenplay. There for two weeks, he stayed at Sacher's, a hotel nominally reserved for military personnel. On the day before his planned return to London, he engaged in a chance conversation with a British Intelligence Officer and from that, Greene learned of the extensive network of sewers that lay beneath the streets of Vienna. The sewer system was maintained by a work-force independent of the multi-national military governance that controlled street-level Vienna. Greene reasoned that the subterranean passages would provide an ideal conduit for any criminal wishing to gain unfettered access to the four restricted zones of the city. It was from such beginnings that the novelist gained inspiration for his novella 'The Third Man' from which he later provided the film screenplay.

Towards the end of 1948, with the financial backing of Korda and American producer, David Selznick, noted British film director, Carol Reed, took cast and crew in tow and went to Vienna to complete five weeks on location, shooting the film in a contemporary setting. Like a once proud and beautiful Countess sullied by the cruel treatment of others, Vienna had fallen on hard times and was struggling to regain the ordered, cultured, life she had known before the advent of Nazi madness. She had not suffered the extreme devastation of Berlin and other German cities, but still bore the legacy of Allied bombing and her citizens had suffered the same despair and privation that the vanquished always suffer in the aftermath of war. Beneath a thin veneer of normalcy life went on, but it was a make-do existence tempered by an ever-present shortage of food and clothing. Many could not resist the temptation to indulge in criminal activity that would give them the means to barter on the thriving black-market that formed the commercial underbelly of the city. In keeping with other European cities under full Allied control at that time, Vienna was divided into four zones, administered seperately by the British, American, French and Russian military forces. Supported by local police, military police patrols scoured the central part of the city seeking to maintan good order. The vehicles carried a military policeman from each of the four nations. They were required to have a rudimentary understanding of German, enabling them to communicate should the need arise....should the need arise !!!. (Who on earth thought that one up ?....sometimes the mind doth boggle at the stupidity of man).

So then, this was the Vienna in which our American hero, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) finds himself. Martins, a writer of pulp westerns, has received an airline-ticket and the promise of a lucrative job from an old school chum, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). However, when Martins arrives at the address Harry had given him, his world comes crashing down when an old caretaker tells him that a few days earlier Harry was killed when hit by a truck as he crossed the road outside. The truck didn't stop, but apparently the incident was witnessed by two of Harry's friends who carried the injured man to the far side of the road, but Harry died before the ambulance arrived. Later, at Harry's funeral, Martins, sets eyes on Harry's grieving lover, the hauntingly beautiful Anna Schmidt (Alida VALLI). At the funeral, he is also approached by the wonderfully cynical Maj.Callaway (Trevor Howard) a British Intelligence Officer who shows great interest in Harry Lime. Martins and Calloway decide on sharing a few drinks, but things turn nasty when Calloway suggests that Harry was not really a very nice man. Hearing this, an intoxicated Martins becomes aggressive, necessitating the intervention of Calloway's able assistant, the sympathetic Sgt.Paine (Bernard Lee) who is compelled to smack him on the jaw to make him see reason.. ( Ironically, we learn that Sgt.Paine is an avid reader of Martins' literary output). Martins is not totally convinced by the account of Harry's death and, later, his suspicions are further aroused when he learns that a third man assisted in carrying Harry's body across the road after the collision. Things get worse when Martins' informant, the caretaker, hangs himself. Although Martins has his own designs for Anna, he shares her need to find out what really happened to, Harry. Later still, we learn that, Harry, is indeed a very naughty boy, heavily involved in the sale and distribution of diluted penicillin and other drugs on the black-market..... and so the film progresses - it would be unsporting of me to tell you more.....

Apart from Carol Reed's masterful direction (he won an Oscar in 1950 for 'editing'), this film has many other virtues. The acclaimed cinematographer, Dutchman Robert Krasker, received an award for his innovative use of light and shade, wide-lens camerawork, unusual angles, and the use of a hand-held camera, much of which was uncommon at that time. By his clever use of lighting and deep shadow he readily conveyed the chill, dampness of the empty streets at night, the black cobbles reflecting the improbable glow of ancient street lighting that had the power to pierce the surrounding darkness and in stark, brilliant, white, reveal the wall of a nearby building. Surreal, perhaps, but an effect that would not have been achieved with coloured film. Another plus was the extensive use of local scenes, which gave the film an added authenticity. The 'Stars' of the film do not disappoint although Harry (Welles) does not make his initial entry until the film is well on it's way. The major players are well supported by Bernard Lee (Sgt.Paine) and that old perennial of British cinema, Wilfred Hyde White, who plays the part of a busy-body literary entrepreneur cum propagandist. Well cast,the film also benefits from several excellent cameo performances given by lesser known local actors. When I first saw this film as a lad, the sinister presence of one such actor (who played one of Harry's dodgy mates) gave me a few nasty dreams and his appearance shall ever remain in my memory as the epitome of malignant evil. If you decide to watch this film you will know who I mean.

The film has many memorable scenes. There is, of course, that famous scene where Harry meets Martins on a Ferris Wheel in a dilapidated amusement park. As the roof-tops of Viena drop below them, Harry seeks to convince Martins that his nefarious activity makes good sense, pointing out that all the Swiss have managed to achieve after 500 years of peaceful existence is a 'cuckoo clock'. (The speech was actually written by Orson Welles for the film. It is often quoted by film-buffs and remains one of the most famous pieces of cinamatic dialogue). Also, there is the chase scene through the echoing chambers of the Viennese sewers (the cold, dank, atmosphere is palpable and oooohh, that smell). Finally, there is the sustained shot of Anna as she approaches the camera along a tree-lined pathway through the cemetery. Accompanied by the bitter-sweet sound of zither music she slowly draws near to the point where, in the foreground off to the left of camera, Martins, expectantly, leans against a wooden cart smoking a cigarette. However, Anna has other plans, and without a flicker of recognition she walks straight past him, out of his life and out of the film.

There are so many aspects of this film that enhance the quality of the end product, but for me, the most memorable ingredient of all shall always be the zither music, composed and played by Austrian musician, Anton Karas. Rarely, does film music convey the very essence of a film in quite the way that 'The Harry Lime theme" does in this gem of British Cinema (see the link below). Some years ago, the British Film Institute voted 'The Third Man' the No.1 British film of the 20th Century....I can understand why. Made 65 years ago, it was well ahead of it's time. On the 14th May, 2015, a recently enhanced copy of the film was shown to appreciative patrons at the Cannes Film Festival. On the following day this version was on sale in Britain and will be available in the U.S. and Canada later this month or in early July.

**** Shipmates are warned that this film does not contain gratuitous sex, either real or implied....still, never mind ay ?....get your head above your navel

Roger......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKUZ71rN0UE

[j.sabourn]

Remember seeing when much much younger. The Harry Lime theme tune is often played in other scenarios and always reminds one of its origins. Another old Teddington Studio film was I'll be your sweetheart, my claim to fame in the film world was in the Musical scene where the girl is being pushed on the swing the bloke in top hat and tails on the left of the swing was one of my Scottish cousins who lived in a mews in London and this film was shown during the war and so must of been made then. As a kid meeting him I was told he was a film star and not just an extra, as I said the Black Douglas"s in a previous post had vivid imaginations. As I said also in a previous post about one of my Aunts saying she was related to Mary Queen of Scots, she did in later years correspond with Ted Heath, why anyone would want to do that I totally fail to understand. I always thought he should of stuck with his violin and leave politics alone. Good account of the Third man though, probably didn't appreciate it as was too young, second time round should be better. Regards JS

[Doc Vernon]

Certainly one of the great Movies of that Era,the Music theme has also always been one to fascinate me.
Sort of Haunting but also soothing !
The Thirty Nine Steps too in that Era was a great Movie!
Cheers

[gray_marian]

#1,A brilliant review Roger of a film I watched aged 12, October 1969 and the music has haunted me ever since but for different reasons!

A few days after watching The Third Man my youngest sister Laura almost two, fell forty feet from an unlocked window. She was taken to a hospital in Killearn, Stirlingshire which specialised in brain trauma, [that department had evolved because of head injuries sustained by Military during WW2.] When my powerful, reserved father held me close and sobbed, I felt his tears landing on top of my head and his body tremble, through anguish and helplessness that in itself nearly killed me. I knew instantly I had to grow up. After six months and extensive treatment and care, Laura was then moved to a Homopathic hospital a Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Glasgow as nothing else could be done. The terminology used then was blind, spastic and mentally retarded, harsh wording yes, but it didn't really matter, the damage was still the same.The next five years were a living nightmare, my mother had a nervous breakdown but with the aid of her Church and valium continued the four bus journeys to the hospital every single day, my father worked all hours to keep his mind occupied and I in-between school helped out with my two younger sisters Fiona and Morag and the household.. Laura died when I was seventeen, a few weeks later something funny occurred we all laughed, then cried as we felt guilty.......I decided then to myself to have a laugh every day thereafter. The quote by the German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche " That which does not kill us makes us stronger" is very true. Any mention of that particular film but especially the music takes me straight back to that time...... Sorry Roger, don't mean to put a damper on your post it just brought evocative thoughts to the fore. Thank you for the clip though
not sure if I can watch it

[Roger Dyer]

Dear Marian,

I have been deeply moved by the heartrending account of the trauma you and your family endured following the tragic accident suffered by your young sister. I feel ill-equipped to provide a fitting response to you in open forum, so I hope you and our shipmates will understand if I do so by way of a private message to you.

Roger

[gray_marian]

#5, Thank you Roger. I went straight from the post to the jokes, cheered myself up. Now reading the rest of the forum always a welcomed distraction when needed. I'm usually a stoic character so no worries:

Everyone of us have a sadness lurking, I just blurted mine out

[eric fisher]

Roger, Saw the film soon after it was first released. Never forgot the story and have the theme on my ipod. Seen it many times over the years. Thank you for the reminder.

Marian, Such a sad story you have my thoughts for all you suffered through it. You are a strong character and I'm sure those memories have helped you be the caring person I know you are.

For me I have many memories of earlier times past when friends were lost in wartime. bombings, accidents and sickness. It can be troubling at times but I try still to help where I can, especially near Nov. 11th with poppy campaign. Also now, my g'friend Margaret recently had a stroke. With only her daughter to help, I do many stints what I call "Lady Sitting". It is self serving but satisfying. People tease me about it, But I know it helps and after all she's only 84 and so lovable.

Take care, Cheers, Eric


Blurting here also

[Stan Carter]

Marion, your reference to your younger sisters, Fiona and Morag, they wouldn't happen to be pipers, would they.
The reason I ask, is I met two sisters of those names when they were members of a pipe band from Newtonmore that came to our town to play at our highland games a few years ago. It's the first time I have seen these name together and being sisters as well.
regards, stan.

[gray_marian]

Hi Stan, Although they both have an abundance of air it's not reserved for the bagpipes unfortunately

[Doc Vernon]

What a Tragic accurrence that was Marian and all I can say is how sad that must have been for you and all concerned!

Yes we all have our little secret closets and keep the Doors shut most of our lives,but sometimes like now a spark is lit and the memories come flooding back!
All that I can say is I feel for you and yours, on that terrible tragedy!
And yes indeed that saying " That which does not kill us makes us stronger" is so true!
God Bless