In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Major Calloway, and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna.
▶ Watch TrailerNo streaming sources found for this title.
🔍 Search on JustWatch →This is a thriller that respects the viewer: doesn't explain everything, doesn't rush events. Tension is created through atmosphere, not mechanical twists.
A solid choice if you're tired of predictable genre formulas. You can sense the creators were thinking about what they were making.
Good choice for those seeking tense cinema without unnecessary noise.
Director: Carol Reed
— MovieFinder Editorial
Best Watched
Viewing atmosphere: Evening with someone who can handle tension. Don't pause, don't check your phone.
Joseph Cotten
Holly Martins
Alida Valli
Anna Schmidt
Trevor Howard
Major Calloway
Orson Welles
Harry Lime
Paul Hörbiger
Karl the Porter
Ernst Deutsch
'Baron' Kurtz
Erich Ponto
Dr. Winkel
Siegfried Breuer
Popescu
Hedwig Bleibtreu
Anna's Landlady
Bernard Lee
Sergeant Paine
Audience Score
Quick rating — tap to vote:
Or write a full review: