1949: The Third Man
April 1, 2021
– Director: Carol Reed
– Stacker score: 92.7
– Metascore: 97
– IMDb user rating: 8.1
– Runtime: 93 minutes
Pulp novelist Holly Martins, played by Joseph Cotten, heads to postwar Vienna to investigate the death of his friend Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles. What he uncovers is a much broader conspiracy with Lime at its very center. Director Carol Reed’s use of off-kilter theme music and harsh lighting drives home a lingering sense of unease, positioning Martins as a mere pawn in someone’s international game.