Fortunately I've seen this movie so many times I know every shot by heart and know exactly what scene they were talking about without having to see it.
The story and the setting in the dark sewers and underworld of post war Vienna is a commentary on the dark post war atmosphere of Europe and the sewer into which it had been led by Hitler and Stalin. Greene was influenced by his own experience with knowing Kim Philby and finding that he was a spy for the Soviets. The story behind The Third Man is long and complicated and also influenced by Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad's tale of pursuing the madman Kurtz up a river into the jungle of the slaughterhouse of the Belgian Congo (later adapted as Apocalypse Now.). Many newspaper reviews of the film and novel are available which go into all these themes at length. Worth research and reading.
"Harry Lime" was an amalgamation of Harry "Kim" Philby and Graham Greene, who worked together in MI6 during WW2. Only they knew the inside joke. The real subtext in the THE THIRD MAN was espionage.
33:29 I figured that it’s because all three are living there: Dr Winkle, Kurtz, and Lime, since it’s in the Russian section (as Kurtz mentioned) 38:06 I thought this was written as a treatment, not a novel (you can listen on Criterion) 44:20 I think in the end she will be practical and “settle” for Holly Martins, but her behavior in the two café scenes foreshadow the way she really thinks of him. 52:00 we have lost excellent character actors, that’s why. They aren’t around as long, they have a short shelf life, and few writers seem to know how to maximize their talent. 1:24:42 yeah, me, too. 1:32:53 yeah, OW wasn’t feeling the sewers 1:43:33 you want her to look at him, but she really loved Harry.
absolutely one of the best films ever.......and the music is so right.....Joseph Cotton was an expert actor as was Wells.....they are actors that does not exist anymore.....today's actors are a national embarrassment in my opinion and I avoid going to the movies of today because they,......let me be completely honest.......they stink.
I am screening "The third man" at our local film club next weekend. I am looking to play 10-15 mins of this commentary track at the post screening discussion session. I havent seen the film yet and I dont want to spoil myself by listening to this, so can someone point me to the time stamp containing the best parts of the commentary so I know which one to edit out. Thank you.
senthil kumar Well, the first several minutes contains a nice introduction that you could play before you show the film. I'll comment again if and when I finish it all.
28:51...because it's a witnessing of the consequences of man-made "nature"...of compelled nature....just as Film, itself, is a witnessing of a contrived, compelled nature....in the reactions causing a purposeful violent explosion or the reactions in chemical photography- they both manifest and embody aspects of man's relation to/with nature.
These guys talk about the film as if it sprang spontaneously from nowhere, from the directors mind. The Third Man was a book before it was a movie. Graham Greene wrote the book after going to Vienna. He describes the city, he describes the character of Holly Martins and all the rest. These guys need to read the book before making commentaries like this. They sound like hacks.
Schöne Schei.., von wegen ganzer Film deutsch "Der dritte Mann" der Urheber scheint nicht zu wissen was deutsch ist, das (Nein ich gebe ihm kein Tiernamen, möchte die lieben Tiere nicht beleidigen)!
Fortunately I've seen this movie so many times I know every shot by heart and know exactly what scene they were talking about without having to see it.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve synced it up to my old Criterion DVD.
(Pause this video at 0:25, and hit play when you see the BBFC card in the movie)
As someone who lives in the UK, this is a godsend as we don't have this track on either of our releases!
Carol Reed the director was the uncle of the British actor Oliver Reed (Gladiator, The three musketeers, Oliver! which was directed by Carol Reed).
Thank you for uploading this!
The story and the setting in the dark sewers and underworld of post war Vienna is a commentary on the dark post war atmosphere of Europe and the sewer into which it had been led by Hitler and Stalin. Greene was influenced by his own experience with knowing Kim Philby and finding that he was a spy for the Soviets. The story behind The Third Man is long and complicated and also influenced by Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad's tale of pursuing the madman Kurtz up a river into the jungle of the slaughterhouse of the Belgian Congo (later adapted as Apocalypse Now.). Many newspaper reviews of the film and novel are available which go into all these themes at length. Worth research and reading.
"Harry Lime" was an amalgamation of Harry "Kim" Philby and Graham Greene, who worked together in MI6 during WW2. Only they knew the inside joke. The real subtext in the THE THIRD MAN was espionage.
May I ask you
Is this film with British accent
33:29 I figured that it’s because all three are living there: Dr Winkle, Kurtz, and Lime, since it’s in the Russian section (as Kurtz mentioned)
38:06 I thought this was written as a treatment, not a novel (you can listen on Criterion)
44:20 I think in the end she will be practical and “settle” for Holly Martins, but her behavior in the two café scenes foreshadow the way she really thinks of him.
52:00 we have lost excellent character actors, that’s why. They aren’t around as long, they have a short shelf life, and few writers seem to know how to maximize their talent.
1:24:42 yeah, me, too.
1:32:53 yeah, OW wasn’t feeling the sewers
1:43:33 you want her to look at him, but she really loved Harry.
TRES Cooll/Heavy Film Noir
I play this on/off while rewatching the movie because somehow it makes it even better hearing someone skilled point out the gobsmacking genius of it.
absolutely one of the best films ever.......and the music is so right.....Joseph Cotton was an expert actor as was Wells.....they are actors that does not exist anymore.....today's actors are a national embarrassment in my opinion and I avoid going to the movies of today because they,......let me be completely honest.......they stink.
I am screening "The third man" at our local film club next weekend. I am looking to play 10-15 mins of this commentary track at the post screening discussion session. I havent seen the film yet and I dont want to spoil myself by listening to this, so can someone point me to the time stamp containing the best parts of the commentary so I know which one to edit out. Thank you.
senthil kumar Well, the first several minutes contains a nice introduction that you could play before you show the film. I'll comment again if and when I finish it all.
I just rented the Criterion version and for some reason this isn’t on it.
This is maybe the best movie ever and the worst movie ever to watch the wrong way
28:51...because it's a witnessing of the consequences of man-made "nature"...of compelled nature....just as Film, itself, is a witnessing of a contrived, compelled nature....in the reactions causing a purposeful violent explosion or the reactions in chemical photography- they both manifest and embody aspects of man's relation to/with nature.
These guys talk about the film as if it sprang spontaneously from nowhere, from the directors mind. The Third Man was a book before it was a movie. Graham Greene wrote the book after going to Vienna. He describes the city, he describes the character of Holly Martins and all the rest. These guys need to read the book before making commentaries like this. They sound like hacks.
Wrong. Greene wrote a film treatment as a narrative, which was developed into the script. The treatment was subsequently published as a novella.
Schöne Schei.., von wegen ganzer Film deutsch "Der dritte Mann" der Urheber scheint nicht zu wissen was deutsch ist, das (Nein ich gebe ihm kein Tiernamen, möchte die lieben Tiere nicht beleidigen)!
Switch it off quick before soderbergh's disgusting drone destroys you, your family, your nation, and one of the best films of all time.
Most stupid comment of the year....
I loved the music..one of my favorite films of all time.
..AA
The Third Man and Citizen Kane are two of the most over-rated movies in history.