SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF "THE THIRD MAN"

Ok folks, now, let’s do some star-gazing shall we? But while we’re at it, why not gaze at the stars of yore? I want to take you to watch a British film of particular cinematic importance now. It won a golden palm at Cannes and an Oscar ® for cinematography (a well-deserved one in my opinion but we’ll talk more of that later)… Sounds like I’m going to try and sell you sell you some arty film right? Wrong actually. Adapted from Graham Greene’s novel of the same name, The Third Man is about as exciting as it gets!
Holly Martens is a writer. He writes Western novels and is usually quite broke. In the days following the 2nd World War, he gets an invitation from his childhood friend Harry Lime, to Vienna. Vienna of the day is of course divided into four zones (British, French, Russian and American) and run strictly by the Allies. Harry, however, offers Holly a job (not to mention a plane ticket) and Holly is “stony broke” so he takes the offer and comes to Vienna. On his arrival there is a rather nasty surprise awaiting him. Harry appears to have died in a traffic accident a few days ago. Holly however, smells a rat. The few acquaintances of Harry’s that he meets are very evasive, the British Lieutenant Colloway seems to be trying to unearth something but he won’t come clean and as for Harry’s former girlfriend Anna, well she definitely seems odd… Albeit beautiful. Holly decides to really get to the bottom of the accident even though everyone tells him repeatedly to go home and leave well alone. Because there is the small matter of The Third Man… Who is he, where is he and why can no one neither prove nor disprove his existence?
The Third Man may seem quite nostalgic to some of you. It basically repeats the style of the post-war spy movies we know so well. And well, the plot in general doesn’t lack much from a spy movie. Intrigue, secrets, mystery, a brave young hero (Joseph Cotton as Holly Martens) and a beautiful dame… Not to mention an appearance by Orson Wells (purely as an actor here however, the film is directed by the famous British director Carol Reed). In these days of police flicks by the gallon, you may – like me – guess the “twist” in the plot way in advance, but I assure you it won’t prevent you from enjoying the film. I will go as far as saying that the chase sequence at the end (you know that every adventure film needs one) is one of the best I have ever seen. And, I do not want to give too much away for fear of ruining the plot but there is, in the second half of the film again, such a good play on shadows and light that I almost got up and cheered, much less give it an Oscar® . (Oh come on, doesn’t clever camera tricks excite you even the tiniest bit? No? Oh…)
And of course the whole crux of the film is black and white – of course – but also a matter of loyalty and where the heart lies. The heart doesn’t always automatically direct one to what is good and right, sometimes, well, it’s just plain complicated. And in this film, let me tell you, things get pretty damn complicated…
You know I told you about good quality “fun and adventure” films? This is a prime example of both quality and enjoyment. Think about it, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone; having a ball AND watching a classic… Go on… You’re sold, aren’t you?