"The Third Man"; what's so great about it? (spoilers)

youtalkfunny · #1 07-30-2006, 05:54 PM

Finally, finally, FINALLY got around to watching "The Third Man". Supposed to be one of the greatest films ever, on everybody's top 5 list.

What's so great about it?

The photography is unique, but I wouldn't call it "great".

The performances are certainly top-notch.

But I just didn't CARE about any of the characters. I didn't care if Harry got caught. I didn't care if Holly "did the right thing" and helped the cops. I didn't care if the cops got their man. And most of all, I didn't care if the chick got sent to Siberia.

Contrast this with "Casablanca". I care about Rick, and Ilsa, and even Louie. Hell, I even care about Sam.

But none of the characters in "The Third Man" make a case that I should care about them (except that British sgt, he was cool).

And that zither music which draws so much praise. UGH! The opening theme was neat, but that was enough for me. Everything after that was just grating.

Wells' entrance was damn cool, as well as his ferris wheel scene.

But the entire first hour, where Cotton tries to unravel the mystery, is more of a chore to watch, than entertainment. I'm going to guess that it's all cliche now, but it was fresh then.

Is that it? Is that why this film is considered so great?

Dominic · #2 07-30-2006, 07:03 PM

hmmmm...hard to convince someone to love a movie if they don't.

i do love this film...especially the Swiss/cukoo clock analogy.

yes, it was fresh then...

youtalkfunny · #3 07-30-2006, 07:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
hmmmm...hard to convince someone to love a movie if they don't.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it's not hard.

I didn't "get" Citizen Kane, either, until Roger Ebert explained it to me on the commentary track.

Just explain what I missed, I might get it.

Dominic · #4 07-30-2006, 07:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
hmmmm...hard to convince someone to love a movie if they don't.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it's not hard.

I didn't "get" Citizen Kane, either, until Roger Ebert explained it to me on the commentary track.

Just explain what I missed, I might get it.

[/ QUOTE ]

nah, i don't really care if you like it or not. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

John Cole · #5 07-30-2006, 11:53 PM

You have simply been listening to too many bad reviewers if you think the essence of a film is "caring" about the characters. I care more about my dog than any character in a film ever, but I've seen The third Man at least forty times, and I couldn't sit through one showing of a two hour videotape of my dog.

In other words, look again; this time consider perspective, a world out of balance, and what parallel lines do.

Dominic · #6 07-31-2006, 12:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
You have simply been listening to too many bad reviewers if you think the essence of a film is "caring" about the characters. I care more about my dog than any character in a film ever, but I've seen The third Man at least forty times, and I couldn't sit through one showing of a two hour videotape of my dog.

In other words, look again; this time consider perspective, a world out of balance, and what parallel lines do.

[/ QUOTE ]

nicely put!

Triumph36 · #7 07-31-2006, 12:05 AM

I think caring about the characters isn't that important - it's the mystery that is important. We don't really care that Cotten's character (whose name I forget - see?) is in this odd place, but the story itself is gripping enough to make us want to see it through. Whether or not the love story is convincing is up for debate, but the final shot of the film is so phenomenal. And I liked the zither music.

I don't know much about the technical aspects of film-making (i.e. cinematography, framing), but it's pretty clear this film is different from most in those areas. Throw in a post-war Vienna, a hack writer, the puzzling death of a friend, as well as a classic speech by Orson Welles, and it's a fantastic film.

youtalkfunny · #8 07-31-2006, 08:00 AM

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but the final shot of the film is so phenomenal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spot on.

Nonononono · #9 07-31-2006, 12:45 PM

I guess not everyone loves the zither music. I liked it a lot.

The film is packed with so many moments of brilliance ... the cat who only liked Harry ... the high-speed car ride ... the fingers through the sewer grate ... and of course the ending.

raisins · #10 07-31-2006, 03:39 PM

I didn't find the movie all that great either.

My guess is that you like stories where you identify with one of the main characters through the course of the story. Many artists consider that "pornographic" and want their work to hold the attention of the audience through different means. So having characters that are difficult to identify with is not a strong criticism for some.

Personally, I found the zither music, meh. Not too many agree with me, but I thought Orson Welles' famous speech on the ferris wheel (the cuckoo clock) was hackneyed and self indulgent. Graham Greene resisted that change to the script. While the story was good I wasn't all that interested and the cinematography drew more of my attention.

Here's a site that discusses the film and points out the development of themes and changes of character from an advocate. Link.

raisins