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Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime.
Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece “The Third Man” is back in theaters in a dazzling 4k restoration which makes this classic noir, notorious for its masterful cinematography, look even crisper. The announcement was made in May on the eve of Orson Welles’ 100th birthday and the new version premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The restoration is part of a trend of remastering and converting classic movies that were shot in film into digital. Other recent examples include “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Strangelove,” restored by Sony Pictures. 4k refers to the resolution of the image, considered high in the current digital world, meaning a more detailed, clearer picture free of scratches or noise – perfect for modern audiences who are delving into this classic for the first time.
For those of you who haven’t seen “The Third Man” (and you should!), the film takes place in a grim post-war Vienna, where Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a penniless American writer, arrives after being offered a job by his longtime friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). However, when he learns that Lime died in a suspicious accident, Martins starts a dangerous investigation into his friend’s death with the aid of Lime’s seductive ex-girlfriend Anna (Alida Valli).
The restored version worked particularly well for “The Third Man” because, as a film noir, it is all about atmosphere. From the very beginning of the story we are thrown into a world of slanted angles, hard shadows and darkness, clearly inspired by early German expressionist films such as “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920). Every frame seems to be telling the audience that things are not quite right, and a sense of danger is always in the air. And with an even better picture, that experience was only made stronger. The final chase in the cavernous sewer was absolutely stunning, as were the close-ups of actress Alida Valli.
If you are in New York, don’t miss the chance to catch “The Third Man” in 4k at the Film Forum from June 26th to July 9th (http://filmforum.org). Screenings in other cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco will also follow in the upcoming months
