The Third Man

Year:

1949

Duration:

104 min | USA:93 min

Genres:

Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

IMDB rate:

8.3

Director:

Carol Reed

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Details

Country: UK

Release Date: 1949-08-31

Filming Locations: 8 Schreyvogelgasse, Vienna, Austria

Earnings

Opening Weekend: $13,576 (USA) (9 May 1999)

Gross: $618,173 (USA) (23 November 2013)

Cast

Actor

Character

Herbert Halbik

Alida Valli

The Third Man

Joseph Cotten

Holly Martins

Orson Welles

Harry Lime

Trevor Howard

Maj. Calloway

Bernard Lee

Sgt. Paine

Paul Hörbiger

Karl - Harry's Porter (as Paul Hoerbiger)

Ernst Deutsch

'Baron' Kurtz

Siegfried Breuer

Popescu

Erich Ponto

Dr. Winkel

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Crabbin

Hedwig Bleibtreu

Anna's Old Landlady

Nelly Arno

Kurtz's Mother (uncredited)

Jack Arrow

International Patrol A (uncredited)

Harold Ayer

Soldier (uncredited)

Harry Belcher

Man Chasing Holly (uncredited)

Leo Bieber

Casanova Barman (uncredited)

Paul Birch

Military Policeman (uncredited)

Martin Boddey

Russian Military Policeman (uncredited)

Madge Brindley

Guest at Casanova Bar (uncredited)

Robert Brown

British Military Policeman in Sewer Chase (uncredited)

Ray Browne

International Patrol B (uncredited)

Paul Carpenter

International Patrol D (uncredited)

Marie-Louise Charlier

Stripper at club (uncredited)

Alexis Chesnakov

Col. Brodsky - Russian Liaison Officer (uncredited)

Guy De Monceau

International Patrol C (uncredited)

Reed De Rouen

American Military Policeman at Railroad Station (uncredited)

Jack Faint

Guest at Casanova Bar (uncredited)

Peter Fontaine

Minor Role (uncredited)

Thomas Gallagher

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Michael Godfrey

International Patrol C (uncredited)

Vernon Greeves

International Patrol D (uncredited)

Paul Hardtmuth

Hartman - Hall Porter at Hotel Sacher (uncredited)

Walter Hertner

Barman at Sacher's (uncredited)

Lily Kann

Nurse (uncredited)

Geoffrey Keen

British Military Policeman (uncredited)

Brookes Kyle

International Patrol B (uncredited)

Martin Miller

Headwaiter (uncredited)

Hannah Norbert

Actress at Josefstadt Theater (uncredited)

Eric Pohlmann

Waiter at Smolka's (uncredited)

Carol Reed

Opening Narrator - UK Version (voice) (uncredited)

Annie Rosar

Porter's Wife (uncredited)

Frederick Schreicker

Hansel's Father (uncredited)

Hugo Schuster

Waiter (uncredited)

Karel Stepanek

Actor at Josefstadt Theater (uncredited)

Gordon Tanner

International Patrol C (uncredited)

Brother Theodore

Man on street (uncredited)

Ernst Ulman

Visitor at Literature Club (uncredited)

Helga Wahlrow

Josefstadt Theatre Actress (uncredited)

Jenny Werner

Hilde - Winkel's Maid (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

David O. Selznick wanted Robert Mitchum to star as Holly Martins, but the actor's arrest for marijuana possession made this impossible.

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The film was released in America by Criterion on the Blu-Ray disc format, but was almost immediately discontinued due to Criterion losing the rights to the movie, which then went back to Studio Canal, the previous owners. As such, the Blu-Ray release from Criterion has quickly become a collector's item.

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Once he finally arrived in Vienna, Orson Welles refused to film various scenes in the sewers. Due to his protests, various sets replicating the Vienna sewers had to be constructed by Alexander Korda on sound-stages back in England.

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Goofs

In the sewer before putting fingers through grate, Harry Lime holds the stair's supporting pole with his right hand, but the gun should be in his hand, as displayed before and after this shot.

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When Calloway and the police stand waiting for Harry to arrive at the station, an elderly balloon man tries to sell them a balloon. His balloons have designs printed on them. Calloway has his sergeant buy one to get rid of the old man but the balloon has no printing on it, as the shot of the police was filmed later in London.

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Three cats were used for Harry Lime's only loved cat. But all three cats had different sizes and colors.

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Quotes

Calloway: Next time we'll have a foolproof coffin.

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Martins: I guess nobody really knew Harry like he did... like I did.

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Calloway: Go home Martins, like a sensible chap. You don't know what you're mixing in, get the next plane.

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Faq

Q

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?

A

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The third Man can be found here.

Q

Is "The Third Man" based on a novel?

A

Yes. English novelist Graham Greene [1904-1991], who also wrote the screenplay for this film, wrote a novella of the same name in preparation for the screenplay, but the novella was not published until 1950, a year after the film was released.

Q

A Note Regarding Spoilers

A

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

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