The Third Man

The film is based on the novel by Graham Greene.

The shooting happened in Vienna from 22 October to 11 December 1948.

In American theaters from the film was cut out 11 minutes, including the introduction in which the narrator (Carol reed) explained to the audience what life in the occupied city and how to earn on the black market. This fragment was restored in the edition DVD.

Wells had a choice to get a fixed payment for shooting or a percentage of the profits. Wells chose a fixed payment and lost, big time.

In the original script green the story is on behalf of the British police (major Calloway)

A prototype of Harry lime in the novel Greene, Kim Philby, in those years still respectable agent of her Majesty and the head of Graham Greene. The name of Harry lime - rubber stamp with the name of Graham Greene.

Anton Karras, author and performer of the main musical themes played on a zither.

The actors wearing in the movie a military uniform, actually wore brightly colored costumes, to be different from the real military. The difference was smoothed out black-and-white film.

In a traditional Viennese cinema "Burgkino" that on the Ringstrasse, "the Third man" is still shown three times a week: on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

In Vienna currently, there are several travel agencies offering tourists a guided tour "the third man". — However, they should not be confused with the unit of the Vienna magistrate, responsible for the city sewer system, the slogan of which is "In the footsteps of the third man."

Despite the British origins, "the Third man" belongs to the classic Noir films and even recognized by the American film Institute as "one of the best American detectives" in the story. The main character finds himself in the role of a private detective and investigation not only convinced of the relativity of common opinions and moral guidelines, but also finds himself in a situation where he is forced to choose between love and duty.

In 1999 the British film Institute has recognized the Third man the best British film of all time.

Orson Welles refused to act in a sewer tunnel. In the scene where (supposedly) the hero wells grabs hold of the bars of the sewer, starred the Director, Carol reed.

During the filming of the movie, cafe "Mozart" which was to be held the meeting of Martens with Baron Kurtz, — refused to become a yoke for fear of losses, so the scene of the meeting were filmed in the surrounding area, just arrange the tables. Currently, cafe "Mozart" actively advertises itself as one of the places "the Third man".