Search - The Third Man on DVD

Movie Release: 1949 DVD Release: 01/22/2002 Format: DVD - Black and White Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins Studio: Alpha Video Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Mystery, Film Noir, Psychological Thriller See Also: The Third Man [Criterion Collection], The Third Man [Criterion Collection], The Third Man [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

In this Cold War spy classic, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a third-rate American pulp novelist, arrives in postwar Vienna, where he has been promised a job by his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). Upon his arrival, Martins discovers that Lime has been killed in a traffic accident, and that his funeral is taking place immediately. At the graveside, Martins meets outwardly affable Major Calloway (Trevor Howard) and actress Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli), who is weeping copiously. When Calloway tells Martins that the late Harry Lime was a thief and murderer, the loyal Martins is at first outraged. Gradually, he discovers not only that Calloway was right but also that the man lying in the coffin in the film's early scenes was not Harry Lime at all--and that Lime is still very much alive (he was the mysterious "third man" at the scene of the fatal accident). Thus the stage is set for the movie's famous climactic confrontation in the sewers of Vienna--and the even more famous final shot, in which Martins pays emotionally for doing "the right thing." Written by Graham Greene, The Third Man is an essential classic, made even more so by the insistent zither music of Anton Karas. The film is currently available in both an American and British release version; the American print, with an introduction by Joseph Cotten, is slightly shorter than the British version, which is narrated by director Carol Reed. Nominated for several Academy Awards, The Third Man won Best Cinematography for Robert Krasker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joseph Cotten - Holly Martins
Alida Valli - Anna Schmidt
Orson Welles - Harry Lime
Trevor Howard - Maj. Calloway
Paul Hoerbiger - Porter
Bernard Lee - Sgt. Paine

Carol Reed's superb thriller The Third Man gets a release from Alpha Video that is sparse. The disc preserves the film's original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The soundtrack is rendered in English. While this movie-only disc may be appealing to some, Criterion's edition of the film is loaded with illuminating extras and contains much better picture and sound quality. This is a decent disc, but those who care should seek out the other. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide