The third man is a 1949 british film noir directed by carol reed, written by graham greene. Approved, 1 h 44 min joseph cotten, alida valli, orson welles, trevor howard director. Adults like calloway, who has seen at first hand the results of limes crimes, and children like the trusting holly, who believes in the simplified good and evil of his western novels. Rossano brazzi costars and the superb cinematography is by robert krasker the third man, 1949. More than half a century after his dramatic death in the sewers of vienna, harry lime orson welles still haunts the city.
It also won the bafta award for best film and the prestigious grand prize at cannes. I really dig that opening shot you have on the page the camera looking at the man at the end of the tunnel with fog. Between the photography genius of robert krasker and the direction of carol reed and uncredited orson welles, the visual appeal of the third man 1949 is terrifically magnetic. The running man is considered a big disappointment to fans of director carol reeds the third man. A britishamerican coproduction overseen by alexander korda and david o. The scars of the war have long disappeared, but almost all the locations of carol reeds film noir classic have remained. An instant classic and international hit, the third man won the palme dor at the cannes film festival 1949, the british film academys best british film award 1950 and an academy award for robert krasker s cinematography 1951. Characters intertwine in a way that may be tiring for some, but krasker s use of strange canted angles and exaggerated lighting frame the films gallery of characters in a way that makes each one feel. All of the did superb work under reeds subtle direction. The 1949 film noir features great performances from joseph cotton, alida valli and the indestructible orson welles, it evokes an unprecedented atmosphere enhanced by supreme blackandwhite cinematography by the wonderful robert krasker, displays eloquent ingenuity in graham greenes screenplay and uses.
This original third man walk is the quintessential tour for film buffs from all around the world. When the third man was released in the united states 50 years ago, coproducer david selznick did a little snipping first. The atmospheric use of blackandwhite expressionist cinematography by robert krasker, with harsh lighting and distorted camera angles, is a key feature of the third man. Anton karas wrote and performed the score, which was played on a zither the film takes place in postworldwarii vienna amongst bombedout buildings and barren streets. But collaborating with directorial heavyweights like carol reed, david lean, luchino visconti, william wyler, and anthony mann has arguably. Distribuzione in italiano, minerva film fotografia robert krasker montaggio oswald hafenrichter. Bright lighting contrasts with urban landscapes of dark shadows and darker figures cinematographer robert krasker won an oscar for his work at the 1951 ceremony. The third mans vienna by brigitte timmermann books.
Welles is memorable as the seductive villain, but the true star may be the camera work of robert krasker, which transforms vienna into a coruscating, expressionist nightmare. Luso atmosferica di bianco e nero espressionista fotografia da robert krasker, con dure illuminazione e distorto angolo di olandese tecnica di ripresa, e una. Source is the third man s vienna celebrating a film classic isbn. All in all, not great but more than sufficiently entertaining. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. He briefly worked for paramount in paris before joining alexander. The third man was a huge critical and commercial hit on release.
Expressionistic elements are used to give limes world a twisted feel. There are several apparent allusions to amblers book in the film. The atmospheric use of blackandwhite expressionist cinematography by robert krasker, with harsh lighting and distorted dutch angle camera. The film received the grand prize of the cannes film festival in 1949 it is considered one of the best black films in the history of cinema. Well researched and detailed, but with an undercurrent of humour, like the film itself, the book is full of information about the larger than life characters who combined to create a masterpiece. Set in postwar vienna, the film centres on american holly martins cotten, who arrives in the city to accept a job with his friend harry lime welles, only to learn that lime has died viewing his death as suspicious, martins. Mad magazine did a memorable parody of the third man, picturing water trucks all over the city with massive hoses watering down every street. Not rated, 1 h 44 min joseph cotten, alida valli, orson welles, trevor howard director. Excellent tones, beautiful print in good condition. A superb film, thought by many to be carol reeds finest, it needs no introduction.
This book gives a fascinating insight into the world of filmmaking in the days of the great moguls and their star actors, as well as being a must for all admirers of the third man in particular. In the third man krasker captured in blackandwhite the gloomy, corrupt decadence of postwar vienna, where everything was for sale. Selznick favoured robert mitchum, until mitchum was arrested for. The third man is a 1949 british film noir directed by carol reed, written by graham greene, and starring joseph cotten, alida valli, orson welles, and trevor howard. There is an atmospheric use of blackandwhite expressionist elements by the films cinematographer, robert krasker. In his youth he attended art classes in paris and studied photography at the photohaendler schule in dresden. Robert krasker s dazzling blackandwhite cinematography, graham greenes typically. I saw the third man for the first time on television in new york, with commercial interruptions. Carol reeds film noir masterpiece will return to cinemas this autumn to celebrate its 70th anniversary, in stunning 4k, and a brand new trailer and poster have been. Selznick, the third man was written by graham greene, photographed by robert krasker and featured, along with welles, joseph cotten, alida valli and trevor. The atmospheric use of blackandwhite expressionist cinematography by robert krasker, with harsh lighting and distorted dutch angle camera angles, is a key feature of the third man.
Scripted by graham greene, directed by carol reed and set in cold war vienna, the. He received an academy award for his work on the third man 1949, directed by carol reed, having previously worked with reed on odd man out 1947. The lives of orson welles at the third man museum in vienna on may 5th and 6th, 2018. Combined with the unique theme music, seedy locations and acclaimed performances from the cast, the style evokes the atmosphere of an exhausted, cynical, postwar vienna at the start of the cold war. Carol reeds the third man might just be as visually stimulating as classic films get. All about eve gained 14 nominations, but the third man received only three for reeds direction and the editing, and won only for robert krasker s inky highcontrast cinematography. The third man 1949 filmnoir, mystery, thriller usa. The dvd of the third man this classic film is one that all should have in their dvd libraries. The third man was nominated for the academy award for best cinematography for a black and white film for robert krasker, and was nominated for best director for carol reed and best film editing for oswald hafenrichter. Selznick, the third man was written by graham greene, photographed by robert krasker and featured, along with welles, joseph cotten, alida valli and trevor howard. The third man is a 1949 film noir classic starring orson welles, joseph cotten, and alida valli. It received three oscar nominations, including one for reeds direction, and took home a statuette for robert krasker s cinematography. Robert krasker collected a nocontest academy award for photographing carol reeds the third man and was worshipped by his collaborators including actors. More than 65 years since its release, carol reeds the.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Robert krasker s greatest photographic triumph is undoubtedly the third man, a work which earned him the academy award in 1950. Robert moss has written that krasker was one of the few men whose patient craftsmanship and innovative ideas matched reeds. Kraskers work was strongly influenced by film noir and german expressionism. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. This screening is in support of erik van beuzekoms performance of the one man show rosebud. He travelled to england in 1937 via photographic studios in paris and dresden, and found work at alexander kordas london films, where he became a. The third man s vienna by brigitte timmermann 416pp.
The third man is a 1949 british film noir directed by carol reed and written by graham greene. Those night scenes, the streets they wet down, the reflective surface it creates. Illustrated production history with rare behindthescenes photos, original uk press book, and u. This new print does full justice to robert kraskers dazzling, oscarwinning. The cast, most notably orson welles, who appears somewhat briefly but is key to the drama and speaks some lines to joseph cotton, as they stand by the vienna ferris wheel which are still quoted. Directed by carol reed, from a screenplay by graham greene, the third man digs down into a seedy underbelly. Carol reed robert krasker the third man 1949 noirvember. Even more than karas and greene or welles, whose lime may be the most irresistible villain ever to darken a screen, the third man belongs to robert krasker, whose work here won him an. I am immediately reminded, as i am with many of the photographs throughout the book, of the work of robert krasker, the cinematographer who produced such memorable images in the cult film the third man. Krasker, who won an academy award for his striking, richly detailed.
It earned him an academy award and continues to influence cinematographers. A somewhat underrated figure in cinematographic history, australianborn robert krasker handled some of the most memorable films made in britain after the second world war. Written by graham greene, featuring orson welles, directed by carol. Had the third man 1949 been the only movie cinematographer robert krasker ever shot, it would still secure his place in the history of film. The third man is essentially greenes movie and its permeated with the art of. He also worked on brief encounter for david lean and another mans poison for irving rapper. Joseph cotten, orson welles, alida valli, trevor howard, bernard lee, ernst deutsch british director carol reeds 1949 classic the third man. The third man 1949 directed by carol reed, screenplay by graham greene, with joseph cotten, trevor howard, alida valli, and orson welles as harry lime. Here is a current view taken by g opelt this places it right beside dr. Pulp novelist holly martins travels to shadowy, postwar vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, blackmarket opportunist harry limeand thus begins this legendary tale.
The third man directed by carol reed available on vhs. The very last scene of this film, as anna walks away from funeral services down a treelined road, is one of the most beautifully framed closing images in film. Classic thriller the third man is back in a digital. The filmmakers efforts to give the third man a unique visual texture included. The making of the third man a masterpiece thriller. The third man is a masterpiece of melancholia featuring extraordinary writing, acting, and directing, as well as a classic zither score by anton karas. The film version of the third man is on many lists of the greatest movies of all time.
The third man has been fully restored for the first time since its release in 1949. Fennings, like krasker, is fascinated with light and shadow. Using oblique camera angles, he suggested a distorted world in which buildings loom. Robert kraskers greatest photographic triumph is undoubtedly the third man, a work which earned him the academy award in 1950. The plot of the film surrounds a suspicious accident.
Robert krasker s cinematography remains breathtaking to this day. Won the 1951 academy award for best blackandwhite cinematography. The third man reflects the optimism of americans and the boneweariness of europe after the war. Winkels home, and, as expected, is totally disjointed from the rest of the taxi ride. Filmed on location in england, the movie was honored at several international film festivals and heather sears, in the title role, was nominated for a golden globe award for best supporting actress. The third man, deeply influenced by italian neorealism, is arguably the most significant british example, though it has a close contender in reeds odd man out 1947, shot on blitzed sites in. Carol reed directed the film, and graham greene wrote both the screenplay and novella. Third man tours are still popular in the city, and frau timmermann is one of. It also has some glorious cinematography from robert krasker, carefully composed shots, fine use of locations and a nicely ironic ending. Selznick, the third man was written by graham greene, photographed by robert krasker and featured, along with welles. You cant talk about the third man without recognizing the incredible contribution of cinematographer robert krasker.
The classic movie the third man, widely considered to be one of the best films ever made, is getting a 4k restoration rerelease to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Krasker s masterful use of shadows, camera angles and closeups perfectly reflected the pessimism and upheaval of postwar europe. Directed by reed with cinematography by robert krasker, it stars orson welles, joseph cotten, alida valli and trevor howard. Combined with the unique theme music, seedy locations, and acclaimed performances from the cast, the style evokes the atmosphere of an exhausted, cynical postwar vienna at. The third man official trailer directed by carol reed.