The Third Man (1949)

An American writer (Joseph Cotten) of western novels arrives in post war Vienna at the invitation of his best friend. When he arrives, he is told that his friend has been killed in an accident. But the conflicting stories about his friend's death convinces him that his death was a murder. As he investigates, he finds himself immersed in an underworld of deception, racketeering and murder. Written by Graham Greene and directed by Carol Reed (OLIVER!), this film noir is one of the jewels of British cinema. Rich in atmosphere thanks to the justifiably lauded B&W lensing of Robert Krasker (FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE), this is one of the most stunning looking B&W films ever made and earned Krasker an Oscar. Reed's direction is precise and impeccable. It's a pity that unfounded rumors allege that Orson Welles directed large portions of the film (which the often self promoting Welles did nothing to deny) undermine Reed's achievement. Cotten is very good here as the naive and arrogant American who gets his eyes opened in the worst possible way and Welles may not have much screen time (although he's third billed) but he can't help but steal every scene he's in and, of course, he has that great scene on the Ferris wheel. The only downside was that annoying zither underscore by Anton Karas which is inexplicably adored by the film's admirers but had me climbing the walls! With Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Ernst Deutsch, Paul Horbiger, Wilfrid Hyde White and Bernard Lee.