1. The Third Man (1949)
Dir. Carol Reed Cast: Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard and Orson Welles Post-war Vienna is spilt up into zones, the American zone, the Russian zone, etc. Along comes this chap, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton), looking for his friend, a fellow called Harry Lime, says he has a job waiting for him. Poor chaps a little late as Limes gone and died. hit by a car. But old Martins gets the idea in his head that his friends death was not so accidental. He cant believe it when the military police tell him Lime was really a crook, selling drugs on the black-market Noir is typically an American film directed by a European director. This is the second Euro-noir on the list and the second by Sir Carol Reed. The cinematography in this film is stunning. If you get your kicks from black-and-white this is a film you really need to see. The off-balance angles of the shots give a brilliant sense of the topsy-turvy world that Martins has found himself in. Added to this is the jaunty, bouncy zither music that makes it feel as though we truly are in another world, and it balances the cynical tone of the movie beautiful. Now, I dont whether to call this a spoiler alert because it seems to be a twist that most people are aware of, and it gets featured in all the advertising, but Orson Welles turns up for Act 3 as Harry Lime. Why youd heard about this because he puts in what is, quite possibly, the best supporting performance in any movie. For a character talked about so much, Harry Lime lives up to expectations and more. Orson Welles is so affably evil and charming. Its a work of charismatic genius. Key line: Harry: You didn't expect me to give myself up... 'It's a far, far better thing that I do.' The old limelight. The fall of the curtain. Oh, Holly, you and I aren't heroes. The world doesn't make any heroes outside of your stories.