The Third Man
“Hunted by men ... Sought by WOMEN!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
75th Anniversary Collector's Edition 4K SteelBook Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-02-11
Top Cast
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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
Wilfrid Hyde-White
Crabbin
Alexis Chesnakov
Col. Brodsky the Russian Liaison Officer (uncredited)
Thomas Gallagher
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Herbert Halbik
Hänsel the Little Boy with Ball (uncredited)
Hannah Norbert
Actress at Josefstadt Theater (uncredited)
Eric Pohlmann
Waiter at Smolka's (uncredited)
Carol Reed
UK Version's Opening Narrator (uncredited)
Annie Rosar
The Porter's Wife (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
February 2, 1950
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 26, 1984
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.2M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Carol Reed
- Screenplay & Story
- Graham Greene
- Original Score
- Anton Karas
- Original Title
- The Third Man
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, Russian, German
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.2M
- Production Studios
- London Films Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Carol Reed
Graham Greene
Anton Karas
Robert Krasker, John Wilcox, Stanley Pavey
Oswald Hafenrichter
Carol Reed, Alexander Korda, David O. Selznick
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Krasker
Director of Photography
Carol Reed
Producer
Graham Greene
Screenplay
Oswald Hafenrichter
Editor
Carol Reed
Director
Anton Karas
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Third Man.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Third Man
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Third Man about?
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.
Who directed The Third Man?
The Third Man was directed by Carol Reed.
Who stars in The Third Man?
The principal cast of The Third Man includes Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Orson Welles, Paul Hörbiger.
When was The Third Man released and how long is it?
The Third Man was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
How much did The Third Man make at the box office?
The Third Man grossed $1.2M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Third Man?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Third Man was composed by Anton Karas.
Is The Third Man based on a book or true story?
The Third Man is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Graham Greene".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Third Man?
The Third Man holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).