The Third Man (1949)

Click on the images to enlarge

The Third Man (1949) is undisputedly Carol Reed's unrivalled masterpiece. With his extraordinary feel for atmosphere, his great talent as a story-teller and an unmistakable grasp of the subtlety of human relationships, Reed succeeds wonderfully in translating Graham Greene's 'entertainment' about friendship and betrayal onto celluloid without losing any of its multi-layered complexity nor its psychological undercurrents. With the help of Robert Krasker's masterly expressionistic camera, quick-paced editing, brilliant casting and a unique musical score he creates a black-and-white classic full of thrilling mystery, big emotion, subtle humour, delicate poetry, unforgettable images and the most atmospheric pictures of Vienna ever to be produced in film. His spectacular night photography with great shadows moving over rain-glistening streets, tilted camera angles and bizarre spatial compositions are an integral part of his visual conception and conjure an inimitably dense atmosphere of darkness, human depravity and loss, adding to the city's nightmarish quality. He does not need elaborate action, the drama lies in the poetry of the pictures.

Extract from: Brigitte Timmermann, The Third Man. Celebrating a Film Classic. Vienna 2005. ISBN: 3-9502050-1-2.