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The Third Man

Thriller & Mystery • Classics, Crime, Thriller, A, 31-Aug-1949

One of the greatest British films, Carol Reed's classic very consciously emphasises its time and place - post-war Vienna - yet its resonant themes around loss of innocence and a fall from grace render it timeless. Joseph Cotten plays the writer searching the Austrian capital for his missing friend, Harry Lime. He's disturbed to discover that Lime recently died, but soon begins to doubt the official version of events.

Tags
Vienna, Aftermath of war, Black market, Missing persons
Cast
Joseph Cotton Holly Martin
Orson Wells Harry Lime
Alida Valli Anna Schmidt
Trevor Howard Major Calloway
Crew
Carol Reed director

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