The Third Man (1949)
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- Approved
- 1h 44min
- Film-Noir, Mystery
- 01 Feb 1950 (USA)
- Movie
Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Joseph Cotten | ... |
Holly Martins
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| Alida Valli | ... |
Anna Schmidt
(as Valli)
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| Orson Welles | ... |
Harry Lime
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| Trevor Howard | ... |
Maj. Calloway
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| Paul Hörbiger | ... |
Karl
(as Paul Hoerbiger)
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| Ernst Deutsch | ... |
Baron Kurtz
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| Erich Ponto | ... |
Dr. Winkel
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| Siegfried Breuer | ... |
Popescu
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| Hedwig Bleibtreu | ... |
Anna's Landlady
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| Bernard Lee | ... |
Sgt. Paine
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| Wilfrid Hyde-White | ... |
Crabbin
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Nelly Arno | ... |
Kurtz's Mother (uncredited)
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Jack Arrow | ... |
International Patrol A (uncredited)
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| Harold Ayer | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Harry Belcher | ... |
Man Chasing Holly (uncredited)
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Leo Bieber | ... |
Casanova Barman (uncredited)
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| Paul Birch | ... |
Military Policeman (uncredited)
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| Martin Boddey | ... |
Russian Military Policeman (uncredited)
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| Madge Brindley | ... |
Guest at Casanova Bar (uncredited)
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| Robert Brown | ... |
British Military Policeman in Sewer Chase (uncredited)
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Ray Browne | ... |
International Patrol B (uncredited)
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Robin Burns | ... |
Man in Racetrack Bar (uncredited)
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Paul Carpenter | ... |
International Patrol D (uncredited)
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Marie-Louise Charlier | ... |
Stripper at Club (uncredited)
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Alexis Chesnakov | ... |
Col. Brodsky (uncredited)
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Guy De Monceau | ... |
International Patrol C (uncredited)
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Reed De Rouen | ... |
American Military Policeman at Railroad Station (uncredited)
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Jack Faint | ... |
Guest at Casanova Bar (uncredited)
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Peter Fontaine | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Thomas Gallagher | ... |
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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| Michael Godfrey | ... |
International Patrol C (uncredited)
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| Theodore Gottlieb | ... |
Man on Street (uncredited)
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Vernon Greeves | ... |
International Patrol D (uncredited)
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| Herbert Halbik | ... |
Hansel (uncredited)
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| Paul Hardtmuth | ... |
Hartman (uncredited)
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Walter Hertner | ... |
Barman at Sacher's (uncredited)
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Charles Irwin | ... |
Col. O'Sullivan (uncredited)
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Lily Kann | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Geoffrey Keen | ... |
British Military Policeman (uncredited)
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Brookes Kyle | ... |
International Patrol B (uncredited)
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| Martin Miller | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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Hannah Norbert | ... |
Actress at Josefstadt Theater (uncredited)
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| Eric Pohlmann | ... |
Waiter at Smolka's (uncredited)
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| Carol Reed | ... |
Opening Narrator - UK Version (uncredited) (voice)
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| Annie Rosar | ... |
Porter's Wife (uncredited)
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Frederick Schrecker | ... |
Hansel's Father (uncredited)
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Hugo Schuster | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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| Karel Stepanek | ... |
Actor at Josefstadt Theater (uncredited)
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| Gordon Tanner | ... |
International Patrol C (uncredited)
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| Ernst Ulman | ... |
Visitor at Literature Club (uncredited)
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Helga Wahlrow | ... |
Josefstadt Theatre Actress (uncredited)
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Jenny Werner | ... |
Hilde (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Carol Reed | ||
Written by
| Graham Greene | ... | (by) |
| Graham Greene | ... | (screen play) |
| Orson Welles | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Alexander Korda | ... | (story) (uncredited) |
| Carol Reed | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Alexander Korda | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Hugh Perceval | ... | associate producer |
| Carol Reed | ... | producer |
| David O. Selznick | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Anton Karas | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Robert Krasker | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Oswald Hafenrichter | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Taylor | ... | assembly cutter |
| Noreen Ackland | ... | cutter (uncredited) |
| Derek Armstrong | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Ken Behrens | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| David Eady | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
| Dario Simoni | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| George Frost | ... | makeup artist |
| Joe Shear | ... | hairdresser (as J. Shear) |
| Peter Evans | ... | assistant makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| T.S. Lyndon-Haynes | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Guy Hamilton | ... | assistant director |
| Jack Causey | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Jack N. Green | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| George Pollock | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Gino Wimmer | ... | assistant director: Austria (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Joseph Bato | ... | sets designed with |
| Ferdinand Bellan | ... | assistant art director |
| John Hawkesworth | ... | sets designed with |
| Vincent Korda | ... | set designer |
| James Sawyer | ... | assistant art director |
| George Durant | ... | production buyer (uncredited) |
| Sid Leggett | ... | chief floor props (uncredited) |
| Peter Mullins | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Bobby Murrell | ... | floor props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Cox | ... | sound supervisor |
| Jack Drake | ... | sound editor |
| Red Law | ... | sound recordist |
| Bert Ross | ... | sound recordist |
| Jack Davies | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Jimmy Dooley | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| John Glen | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
| Dick Longstaff | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| W. Percy Day | ... | matte painter (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Denys N. Coop | ... | camera operator (as Denys Coop) |
| Stanley Pavey | ... | additional photography (as Stan Pavey) |
| Edward Scaife | ... | camera operator (as E. Scaife) |
| John Wilcox | ... | additional photography |
| Monty Berman | ... | camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited) |
| J. Bicknell | ... | camera loader (uncredited) |
| Archie Dansie | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Len Lee | ... | stills (uncredited) |
| Alan McCabe | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Geoff Meldrum | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Wilhelm E. Nassau | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ferry Radax | ... | assistant still photographer (uncredited) |
| Joe Vincent | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| John von Kotze | ... | focus puller: second unit (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ivy Baker | ... | wardrobe |
| Gene Hornsby | ... | assistant wardrobe: women (uncredited) |
| George Murrey | ... | wardrobe master (uncredited) |
| Dickie Richardson | ... | assistant wardrobe: men (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Anton Karas | ... | music played by: zither |
Script and Continuity Department
| Peggy McClafferty | ... | continuity |
| Angela Allen | ... | script supervisor: second unit (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Alexander Korda | ... | presenter |
| Elizabeth Montagu | ... | advisor: Austria |
| David O. Selznick | ... | presenter |
| Teresa Bolland | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Robert Dunbar | ... | production assistant: second unit (uncredited) |
| Fred Hymns | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Enid Jones | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Ronnie Wass | ... | film titles (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- British Lion Film Corporation (1949) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- British Lion Film Corporation (1949) (Ireland) (theatrical)
- Selznick Releasing Organization (1950) (United States) (theatrical)
- Filmsonor (1949) (France) (theatrical)
- Minerva Film (1949) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Wivefilm (1949) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Deutsche London-Film Verleih (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Distribuidores Reunidos (1950) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Filmimport A/S (1950) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Sascha-Verleih (1950) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Mundial Film (1950) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Towa. (1952) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Western India Theatres (1955) (India) (theatrical) (Bombay)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1956) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Warner Bros. Film (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2007) (Czechia) (theatrical)
- Asociácia slovenských filmových klubov (ASFK) (2007) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
- Bibliotheque (2019) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Cineteca (2015) (Italy) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Electric Pictures Ltd. (1994) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Europa Film (1976) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
- New Star (2011) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Optimum Releasing (1999) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Rialto Pictures (1999) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Sofilmes (1977) (Portugal) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Tamasa Distribution (2018) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (United States) (VHS)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
- Contender Entertainment Group (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (re-release)
- Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
- Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Film Prestige (2004) (Russia) (DVD)
- Film X (2009) (Czechia) (DVD)
- Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
- Geneon Universal Entertainment (2013) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
- Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (1995) (United States) (VHS)
- Jef Films International (2005) (United States) (VHS)
- Lion International Films (United States)
- Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- NBCUniversal Entertainment (2014) (Japan) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (double feature)
- NHK BS Premium (2016) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK BS1 (1987) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK Kyôiku (1982) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK Sôgô (1961) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK-BS2 (1987) (Japan) (tv)
- Optimum Home Entertainment (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (anniversary edition)
- Pantmedia (Italy) (video) (collection: I Classici di Oreste del Buono)
- Spiegel Media GmbH (Chile)
- StudioCanal International (1949) (World-wide)
- StudioCanal (2010) (Non-US) (DVD) (Blu-ray: StudioCanal Collection)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- The Criterion Collection (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2008) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Collection (2008) (United States) (DVD) (10 dvd box set)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Universal Pictures Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- VCI Home Video (1999) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2004) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (special edition)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins, arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious allies, and where a shortage of supplies has led to a flourishing black market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime, who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime's friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to Harry Lime.
Written by Mark Thompson |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Carol Reed's Classic Thriller See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Opening Weekend United Kingdom | GBP17,856, 18 Jul 1999 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The Vienna Police Dept. has a special unit that is assigned solely to patrol the city's intricate sewer system, as its network of interlocking tunnels make great hiding places for criminals on the run from the law, stolen property, drugs, etc. The "actors" playing police officers in the film were actually off-duty members of that unit. See more » |
| Goofs | In the two separate back projection shots of Calloway, Martins and Paine, supposedly traveling in a jeep at night in Vienna, a double-decker London bus can be seen in the background. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Film Noir (1995). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Third Man Theme See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: V I E N N A See more » |
| Quotes |
Harry Lime:
Don't be so gloomy. After all, it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long, Holly. See more » |