The Third Man (1949)

Summary and Setting
"The Third Man" (1949) is a renowned British movie noir directed by Carol Reed, co-produced by Alexander Korda, David O. Selznick, and written by renowned fiction author, Graham Greene. The movie, soaked in post-war disillusionment and atmosphere of unpredictability, is set versus the backdrop of the messed up and divided city of Vienna, Austria, after World War II.

Plot
The motion picture starts with its lead character, Holly Martins, an American pulp western author, getting here in Vienna at the invitation of his old friend Harry Lime, just to discover that Lime has actually just recently passed away in a strange accident. Martins is shocked and becomes suspicious when the accounts of Lime's death by his 2 pals, Baron Kurtz and the Romanian 'Popescu', do not line up with the story from a British military officer, Major Calloway. Martins finds out that Lime was involved in criminal activity, specifically dealing watered down penicillin, causing multiple deaths.

Deciphering the Mystery
As Martins examines deeper, he unwinds the puzzle that Lime's death was fabricated. It is revealed that Lime is the "Third Man": a shadowy figure who experienced Lime's supposed death. Martins encounters Lime, who is concealing in the Russian sector of the city, and is horrified by his cold-blooded rationale about his dubious deeds. Martins passes this information to Calloway, and they design a plan to record Lime.

Climactic Sequence
An essence of romance blooms in this dark story when Martins falls for Lime's starlet sweetheart, Anna Schmidt. However, her loyalties lie with Lime even after discovering his crimes. The climax builds up in the city's large underground drain system where Lime is trapped by Calloway and his guys. Lime is fatally wounded while attempting to get away and is ultimately captured by the authorities.

Conclusion
The movie ends on a bleak note. Martins waits on Anna to appear, drawn by leitmotif music from a zither, indicating that life isn't like his simplified western books and not constantly leading to a pleased ending. Lime's intrusive immorality and his buddy's optimistic justice clash in the gray ruins of the war-torn city, producing a poignant background to this tale.

Impact and Legacy
With its tight script, enigmatic efficiencies (particularly by Orson Welles as Harry Lime), distinct zither rating by Anton Karas, atmospheric cinematography, and Reed's experienced direction, "The Third Man" is considered a defining example of timeless movie noir. Its special mix of criminal activity, love, and unnerving uncertainty left a deep-marking impact on the movie theater landscape, earning its location amongst the most revered of traditional movies. The haunting image of the '3rd male' at the doorway and the climactic chase in the drains remain imprinted in collective cinematic memory. The movie, marking the chaos and moral chaos of post-war Europe, continues to be influential and has a considerable position in film theory and review.

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