The Third Man [Blu-ray]

Buy This Item The Third Man [Blu-ray] by Criterion Collection  Available from Amazon  $29.95  on 11-14-2008     Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime and thus begins this legendary tale of love, deception, and murder. Thanks to brilliant performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles; Anton Karas s evocative zither score; Graham Greene s razor-sharp dialogue; and Robert Krasker s dramatic use of light and shadow, The Third Man, directed by the inimitable Carol Reed, just continues to grow in stature as the years pass. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: Restored high-definition digital transfer Uncompressed mono soundtrack Video introduction by writer-director Peter Bogdanovich Two audio commentaries: one by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and one by by film scholar Dana Polan Shadowing The Third Man (2005), a ninety-minute feature documentary on the making of the film Abridged recording of Graham Greene s treatment, read by actor Richard Clarke Graham Greene: The Hunted Man, an hour-long, 1968 episode of the BBC s Omnibus series, featuring a rare interview with the novelist Who Was the Third Man? (2000), a thirty-minute Austrian documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew The Third Man on the radio: the 1951 A Ticket to Tangiers episode of The Lives of Harry Lime series, written and performed by Orson Welles, and the 1951 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of The Third Man Illustrated production history with rare behind-the-scenes photos, original UK press book, and U.S. trailer Actor Joseph Cotten s alternate opening voice-over narration for the U.S. version Archival footage of postwar Vienna A look at the untranslated foreign dialogue in the film PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by Luc Sante Reader Reviews "I never knew the Vienna before the war".... Thus begins one of the greatest films ever made and one of the greatest film characters ever created in the charismatic and brilliantly dangerous Harry Lime. Who created him has been argued about for years. Welles was always diplomatic and gave credit to Carol Reed, but anyone who has ever seen this film knows better. Fans of Orson Welles can easily discern his fingerprints everywhere. He brings the enigmatic Lime to life, his genius hanging over every frame of this wonderful Carol Reed production. Joseph Cotten, a friend and staple in a lot of his films, is on hand as pulp western writer Holly Martins. When Cotten comes to postwar Vienna it is an uncoordinated international mess, the black market thriving in the chaos. When Martins discovers his old friend Harry Lime is dead this film really begins. Alida Valli is the strikingly beautiful actress Cotten falls for, but has no chance with because she's in love with his old friend Harry. But Harry might not be so dead after all, at least not according to Trevor Howard, the detective hot on Harry's heels for racketeering. Cotten is having none of it and sets out to clear his friend's name. What follows is the most stylishly filmed noir in film history. The stark black and white photography and the off-kilter camera angles serve to highlight a postwar world where things are not quite right. From the moment Welles steps out of the shadows into the streets of Vienna we are mesmerized. Harry Lime is almost amused by the chase and the proceedings. The scene on a ferris wheel between Martins and Harry, who may not be the same man he knew, is unforgettable, as is Lime's views of the Swiss! If you haven't seen this film, you've been missing one of the five best films ever made. Whenever I think of Welles, this is what I think of. His Harry Lime is unforgettable. Welles would later portray the same character on a weekly radio show. When Martins discovers what Harry has been up to he must make a decision that will change his chances with Valli, and could cost him a lot more. Anton Karas' zither theme helps set the off-center mood for this film and is justly famous. It is not something that would work independent of the film but is a perfect match for what is happening onscreen. All the extra goodies on this Blu-Ray Criterion edition are listed in the product description. The most fabulous of these, for radio lovers at least, is Welles' portrayal of Harry Lime in one of the finest from that radio series. Every single part of this film works within the atmospheric framework to create a dark and exciting jigsaw puzzle you'll never forget. A true screen classic.

The Third Man [Blu-ray] Available from Amazon Price: $29.95 Updated on 11-14-2008.

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