“The Third Man” is a film about loyalty that takes place in war-torn Vienna. In the opening scene Holly Martins, an American writer, is getting off a train. He has come to Vienna because an old friend of twenty years, Harry Lime, says he has found him a job and has offered to help him out. However, when Holly arrives at Harry’s apartment, the porter informs him that Harry is dead. Holly, astonished by this information, sets out to attend Harry’s funeral. After the service, Holly is offered a ride from Major Calloway, an officer who had been investigating Harry.
He tells Holly that Harry had been involved in a scandal but Holly doesn’t believe it. After hearing this Holly becomes very suspicious about the circumstances of his friend’s death and decides to investigate for himself. The rest of the story unfolds as a classic murder mystery. As Holly investigates he discovers new facts that don’t jive with the eyewitness accounts. New information not only sheds new light on the accident that took his friend’s life, it also sheds new light on the morality of Holly’s friend. Holly was an honest law-biding gentleman and believed Harry was as good-natured as well.
The facts seem to reveal a different side of Harry, a side Holly was never aware of. Harry was involved in a racquet that was responsible for diluting penicillin and reselling it for profit. This racquet caused many children to become deathly ill because they were receiving inadequate medication. When Holly is presented with this fact he begins to question his loyalty to his friend.
The Essay on Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, written by J.K. Rowling, is an excellent example of a modern novel that uses medieval influences extensively. Many of the novels characters are based on medieval ideas and superstitions. The settings in the book resemble old medieval towns as well as castles. The book is also full of medieval imagery such as knights in armour, carriages etc. Whilst there is no ...
Holly’s investigating leads to a dramatic scene, where we first see that Harry is actually still alive. Later Harry and Holly meet and talk about the illegal and immoral acts Harry is responsible for. During this conversation Harry offers Holly a part in the scandal, after Holly refuses, Harry insinuates a threat. He follows up this threat by saying he could never actually hurt Holly, and he knows Holly would never hurt him. After they part Holly struggles with his loyalty. Should he leave Vienna and let the police deal with Harry or should he help the police catch his unlawful friend.
In the end Holly decides to help the police catch Harry, which leads them on a foot chase through the sewers beneath Vienna. In one of the final scenes, Holly finds himself face to face with Harry and with his gun fixated on Harry. Holly must make a decision; should he let Harry escape or should he shoot his friend who is responsible for so many deaths. Off camera, in the distant tunnel, we hear a gun shot. This time Harry is dead and the movie ends where it began, at Harry’s funeral. There are many beautiful scenes throughout the movie.
There are scenes that take advantage of light and frame composition. Some that use long shots and obscured viewpoints. One example is the growing monstrous shadow of a balloon salesman as he approaches the corner of the street. This scene seems to create anticipation. Are we to believe this is Harry coming around the corner? What reasons do we have to believe Harry will be a monster when he shows himself? Another great scene is the very last shot of the film. A long shot showing the road lined with trees fading into the distance.
The leaves have fallen off all the trees and covered the road. Even though it’s a black and white film you can see the fall colors and feel the crisp autumn air. Holly leans against a jeep as Anna walks past him and out of the frame. A beautiful scene but what is its significance? Even after some research I found that others acknowledged its beauty but could offer no explanation for it. It seems to me that all these wonderful scenes were done simply because they could be done. The scenes are amazing and probably cutting edge for its time, but offer no real insight to the story.
The Essay on Harry Potter And The Sorceres Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcere's stone is about a boy named Harry Potter who is famous in the wizarding world and doesn't know it. His parents were killed by an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort. Voldemort tried to also kill Harry with a spell but it back fired making Voldemort so weak he was barely living and went into hiding. That happened when Harry was 1 year old and since then he had been living ...
Perhaps they could be compared to the meaningless special effects that saturate movies today. Something else to consider is the acting ability of the time. The characters were stiff and uninspiring, I felt no connection with them. It was as though they had been instructed to say a line, take four steps across the room, turn a quarter turn, and say their next line. I felt as though I was watching marinates being controlled by an invisible puppet master, that is, until Harry (Orson Wells) showed up to meet Holly at the Ferris Wheel. Suddenly the screen came to life.
Harry moved about the set on his own free will. He said whatever came to mind, he said what ever he felt, he was not bound by a script or controlled by an off screen director. He moved and spoke naturally and for a few minutes I saw a real person I could connect with. Then he left screen and with him the life he gave the film.
He was a truly talented actor in his time. I believe the evolution of actors is much like the evolution of athletes. Athletes are constantly breaking records. For example, every few years someone sets a new record for the high jump, 100-meter dash, or most home runs in a season. In 1927 Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in one season, in 1998 Sammy Sosa hit 66, and in 2001 Barry Bonds hit 70. Babe was great ball player in his time but athletes continue to break his record.
Like athletes, actors are continually surpassing their predecessors as well. The story was appealing and the plot interesting but the characters were simply not inviting. If “The Third Man” had been filmed in modern day I probably would have found it exceptional. It doesn’t need Hollywood stars; it would be best with no preconceptions about the characters. Like many old movies it simply needs actors who can act..
