The Third Man (1949)
Classic British noir set in post war Vienna about an American novelist who goes to Austria to meet his friend Harry Lime. On arrival he hears of his friend's sudden death and finds the events leading up to it suspicious to say the least.
After an intriguing set up in the opening ten minutes my enthusiasm is definitely curbed by the following half hour which if i'm honest is decidedly dull. However it picks up again after this rather long lull and climaxes with a brilliant chase through the bombed out city scape. The film is superbly filmed in stark black and white, stylishly utilizing the shadowy Vienna streets and sewers to give us a noir thriller that rivals the best Hollywood has to offer.
Oh yeah! Did i mention that score?
Highly recommended.
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