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Carol Reed: Graham Greene
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This classic noir mystery, from the team of Carol Reed and Graham Greene, is regarded to be the best filmwork of both of these extreme talents. 'The Third Man' features Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, a pulp novelist who has come to post-WWII Vienna with
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Carol Reed was the first British film director ever to be knighted. Born in 1906, Reed’s father was one of the most famous actors of the day, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (the original Henry Higgins); his mother was Tree’s mistress, May Pinney Reed. Carol Reed made his stage debut in 1924 as an actor, before focusing more and more on behind the scenes work for Edgar Wallace’s company beginning in 1927. Wallace’s company was well known for detective thrillers. Reed then jumped to film, staying behind the camera: Talk of the Devil (1936), the first film to be shot at Pinewood Studios; The Stars Look Down (1939) with Michael Redgrave; Night Train to Munich (1940); The True Glory (1945), Odd Man Out (1947), and The Fallen Idol (1948) from the work of Graham Greene. Working with Greene, Reed’s The Third Man (1949) made film history as one of the most tightly constructed and directed thrillers ever.
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The success of 'Odd Man Out' led to a contract with Alexander Korda, for whom Reed made five films, beginning with 'The Fallen Idol' (1948). This was a superbly crafted thriller which turns on a child's misconception of adult emotional entanglements. It was followed in 1949 by the director's acknowledged masterpiece, 'The Third Man'. This was his second collaboration with Graham Greene and is the best film noir ever made out of Britain. Like all the best of the genre, the film is deeply romantic, despite its surface cynicism, and it's this that has caused it to remain in the public memory for so long. It was ... a popular film that did not underestimate its audiences' intelligence.
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Reed hit his peak in the post-war years with a string of features which remain landmarks in English film history. These began with "Odd Man Out" (1947), a superb hunt drama which follows a wounded Irish revolutionary (James Mason) through the final encounters of his life. The success of "Odd Man Out" led to a contract with Alexander Korda, for whom Reed made five films, beginning with "The Fallen Idol" (1948). A superbly crafted thriller which turns on a child's misconception of adult emotional entanglements, it was followed in 1949 by the director's acknowledged masterpiece, "The Third Man". Justly regarded as the finest of the many films to have been adapted from the works of Graham Greene, this atmospheric thriller made superb use of its postwar Viennese locations and featured fine performances from Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard and Orson Welles.
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Reed worked with cinematographer Robert Krasker, author Graham Greene and Sir Alexander Korda to produce this signature work. In turn, The Third Man radiated success on all its participants, due to its unique atmosphere, music, cast, camerawork, and unhappy ending. Krasker won an Academy award for his work on the film. The zither player, Anton Karas, was nominated for an academy award. His composition for the film became a hit record and brought him fame and fortune. Greene issued the story as a book.
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Carol Reed directed films for 40 years, but his golden period was brief. It covered three years in the late 40s when he made Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol and The Third Man. These three films alone put him in the forefront of British directors of the period, and the last-named, his second collaboration with Graham Greene, is probably the best film noir ever made out of Britain. Like all the best of the genre, the film is deeply romantic, despite its surface cynicism, and it's this that has caused it to remain in the public memory for so long. It was ... a popular film that did not underestimate its audiences' intelligence.
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