Case Study 4 - The Third Man

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THE THIRD MANCase Study 4


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The Third Man BackgroundInformation T e T ird Man !"#4#$ is an Iconic Noir%T ri&&er '&m directed

Caro& Reed) It stars* +ose, Cotten- A&idi .a&&i- /rson 0e&&s and Tre1or Ho2 It 2on 1 Oscar in "#3" for Best Cinematogra, y and 2on

anot er 4 a2ards- inc&uding a BA TA for Best Britis i&m) It5s set in Vienna and it in1o&1es t e 67u&, no1e&ist Ho&&

tra1e&ing to s ado2y- ,ost2ar .ienna- on&y to 'nd imse&fin1estigating t e mysterious deat of an o&d friend- Harry 8ime)9


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T e T ird Man re1ie2s

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6T e T ird Man is a mo1ie t at &ooks and fee&s not &ike a mo1ie of t e 4:s- (ut &ike a neo%noir of t e &at;:sam,&e of c&assic noir is one of t e a&& time greatest '&ms) It com(inesama?ing 1isua&s- sounds- dia&ogue- and acting to te&& a t ri&&ing story and comment a(out t e atmos, ereafter 00II)9

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T e T ird Man no2 as more t an ;: years on its (ack- (ut its age ard&y s o2s) Des,ite t e story sdark t emes- t e genera& mood of t e narrati1e is rat er &ig t- sometimes dark&y funny- and t e s&ig t&ycynica& tone and mora&&y am(iguous c aracters gi1e t e mo1ie a 1ery modern fee&) 0 at a&so stands outand makes t e '&m memora(&e % in addition to t e fantastic soundtrack % is t e outstanding- AcademyA2ard 2inning cinematogra, y) B&ack and 2 ite as rare&y &ooked (etter) T e 2ay D/7 Ro(ert rasker,&ays 2it unusua& ang&es and 1irtua&&y ,aints t is city of .ienna 2it &ig t and s ado2- e adds ana&most e>,ressionistic ua&ity to t e '&m) I a&2ays fe&t t at t e city ,&ays an essentia& ,art in t e story- %a key c aracter if you 2i&& % 2it its damaged (ui&dings reFecting t e damaged uman c aracters)


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G$ Roger E(ert

6Reed and is Academy A2ard%2inning cinematogra, er-Ro(ert rasker- a&so de1ised a reck&ess- unforgetta(&e 1isua&sty&e) More s ots- I sus,ect- are ti&ted t an are e&d straig tt ey suggest a 2or&d out of oint) T ere are fantastic o(&i ueang&es) 0ide%ang&e &enses distort faces and &ocations) Andt e (i?arre &ig ting makes t e city into an e>,ressionist

nig tmare) !During a stakeout for 8ime- a &itt&e (a&&oon man2anders onto t e scene- and is s ado2 is a monster t reestories ig $) .ienna in T e T ird Man is a more ,articu&arand unmistaka(&e J,&aceJ t an a&most any ot er &ocation int e istory of t e mo1ies t e action 'ts t e city &ike a ands&i,,ing on a g&o1e)9


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Camera S ots K Mo1ement

T e T ird Man is argua(&y one of t e most iconic T ri&&er e1er made)Reed uses undreds of (ri&&iant and uni ue s ots t at out&ined t efuture of con1entiona& T ri&&er Camera Ang&es)

An e>am,&e of ty,ica& T ri&&er s ot Reed uses is t e Ti&t Ang&e !DutcAng&e$) T ere are many e>am,&es of t is s ot in t e '&m !A$) I m a,articu&ar fan of t e Ti&t s ot and t is is e1ident in our ,re&iminarytask 2 ere 2e used s ots on t e ti&t to create a sense of ,anic !B$)As E(ert said* More shots, I suspect, are tilted than are heldstraight ) I strong&y agree 2it t is and on t e ne>t s&ide you cansee many e>am,&es) E1en one of t e '&m ,osters t ere is a ti&tL

It can (e said t e most famous s ot in T e T ird Man and acommon&y associated s ot 2it t e '&m%noir and T ri&&er genre ist e 'rst a,,earance of 6Harry 8ime9 !C$) T is is a great e>am,&e ofC iaroscuro &ig ting- &ig t on dark5) T ere is a strong resem(&e fromt is s ot to s ots in Nosferatu t e .am,yre 2 ic I 2i&& co1er in more

detai& &ater on in t is researc )


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Camera S ots K Mo1ement

In addition- during t is re1ea&- t e 2e&& kno2n t eme music (egins to,&ay) T is acts as a ,ersoni'cation of /rson 0e&&5s c aracter c eeky-,&easing and attracti1e)

urt ermore- anot er con1entiona& camera s ot for t e T ri&&er genreare c&ose u,s and once again Reed asn t fai&ed to &itter t e '&m 2it

undreds of e>am,&es !D$) C&ose u,s a&&o2 t e audience to identify2it t e c aracters more and a&so intensify confrontations)

Reed a&so uses se1era& s ots of s,ira& staircases in T e T ird Man!E$) T ese are used to create a sense of c ase and reassure t e

,ursuit t eme of t e '&m) T is s ot is 1ery common in t e T ri&&ergenre and a great e>am,&e can (e seen in t e "##4 T ri&&er* S a&&o2

ra1e !Directed (y Danny Boy&e$ ! $) Its a&most an identica& s otL


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Cu&tura& Signi'ers

A cu&tura& signi'er is somet ing 2it in a media te>t t at indicatt e cu&tura& setting) A great e>am,&e 2ou&d (e an accent< Fagarc ety,a& &ocationO

In t e t ird man t e 'rst cu&tura& signi'er 2e5re introduced to ist e famous t eme music) /rigina&&y com,osed (y Anton aras- i2as 2ritten for t e Zither (G) ) T e ?it er is a Euro,ean!,articu&ar&y a&,ine regions$ stringed instrument simi&ar to a g T e t eme is 1ery catc y and aunty and creates an entertaining

u>ta,osition to se1era& s ots in t e o,ening fe2 minutes !dead(odies and (&ack market$)

T e main cu&tura& signi'ers in T e T ird Man 2ere t e many&ocations t at Reed s ot in around .ienna) E>am,&es inc&ude t1ery 2e&& kno2n Wiener Riesenrad (H).


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Cu&tura& Signi'ers @

Anot er e>am,&e of t e uintessentia& .ienna &ocations

t at act as Cu&tura& Signi'ers are t e se2ers !I$) Se2ersconnote ideas of entra,ment- iso&ation and &a(yrint ine Pcommon con1ention of t e T ri&&er genre) T is idea caa&so (e seen in T ri&&ers suc as Esse> Boys !@:::$ !I"2 en +ason5s 1ictim is e&d in t e (ack of is 1an and in

i&& Bi&& .o&) @ !@::4$ 2 ere T e Bride5 is (uried T e &ocation of t e se2ers a&so oQer t e audience se1er

(eautifu&&y com,osed s ots) or e>am,&e !+$ and ! $


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8ig ting Ro(ert rasker t e cinematogra, er for t e '&m made t e decision to s oot t e '&m in B&ack and

0 ite !8$) Gone with the wind ad (ecome t e 'rst co&our '&m to 2in t e /scar for Best ,ict

": years (efore so co&our '&m 2as de'nite&y an a1ai&a(&e o,tion) rasker 2on t e /scar for BestCinematogra, y in "#3" so is decision de'nite&y ,aid oQ) His sty&istic c oice of (&ack and 2 itadds to t e run do2n and corru,t aest etic of ,ost%2ar .ienna) B&ack and 2 ite- on to, of (eing acommon con1ention of t e T ri&&er genre- re,resents t e mystery and enigma of 2 at s going oin t e city) T is is reinforced (y t e &ack of natura& &ig t)

T e most ,oignant use of &ig ting- is &ike ,re1ious&y mentioned- t e introduction of Harry 8ime!M$) 8ime5s face is &it u, (y a 2oman turning on a &ig t to in1estigate t e s outing from Ho&&Martins) T is s ot is a great e>am,&e of c iaroscuro &ig ting ! a 1ery common con1ention of t

T ri&&er genre$ and t e fact t at 8imes face is surround (y s ado2s P im,&ys e as an e1i& andark side) /t er great e>am,&es of c iaroscuro &ig ting in T ri&&ers can (e seen in 7risoners!@:"G$ !M"$- T e Dark nig t !@:: $ !M@$ and /nce ,on a Time in America !MG$) In additioa&so a T ri&&er tec ni ue 2e a1e e>,erimented 2it in ,re,aration for our 'na& ,roduction !M4

/n to, of &ig ting- Reed uses a &ot of s ado2s !N$) A great e>am,&e of an eQecti1e use of s adocan (e seen s ort&y after t e arri1a& of Ho&&y Martins at Harry 8imes Fat !/$) As e s 2a&kint e stairs- 'rst of a&& it5s a ig ang&e im,&ying 1u&nera(i&ity- (ut a&so martins s ado2 is casfront of im) T is is a &itera& e>am,&e of fores ado2ing and it suggest martins is eading for

darkness and trou(&e)


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8ocations As ,re1ious&y co1ered- T e T ird Man uses many uni ue and famous

&ocations) T e '&ms set in ,ost%2ar .ienna- Austria) 0e are introduced tot is in t e 'rst minute of t e '&m) 0e can see 4 esta(&is ing s ots ofcrum(&ed .ienna !7$) Run do2n and dere&ict ,&aces are a commoncon1ention of t e T ri&&er genre)

A ty,ica& T ri&&er &ocation Reed uses is t e (&ack arc 2ay) Simi&ar to t earc 2ay in /nce ,on a Time in America ! $ o2e1er Reed uses it tocreate a sense of enigma as you cannot see 2 at5s inside t em !R$)

Reed a&so as a (ri&&iant e>am,&e of a 1anis ing ,oint in t e end s ot of T e T ird Man !S$) T is s ot is aest etica&&y ,&easing (ut it a&so ,ro1idesa source of tension as t e audience 2atc Anna 2a&k a&& t e 2ay to2ardsmartins and une>,ected&y 2a&k rig t ,ast !T$)


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8ocations @

/(1ious&y one of t e main &ocations and t e most iconic is t e .ienna Se2ers! $) T e c&ima> of t e '&m is s ot ere) Its no2 (ecome a museum and ,art oft e T ird Man tour ) T e se2ers are a &a(yrint 2 ic adds to t e sense ofentra,ment- enc&osure and adds tension as 8ime doesn5t kno2 2 ic direction

is ,ursuers are coming from P e5s got no esca,e) 8ike ,re1ious&y mentionedt is t eme of entra,ment is an extremely common con1ention of t e T rigenre and some e>am,&es can (e seen on t e ne>t s&ide)

In addition- one more common &ocation Caro& Reed uses are staircases- moreim,ortant&y s,ira& staircases !.$) In eac of t e e>am,&es used- 2e cannot seet e start nor t e end) T is- on to, of t e s,ira& ,attern- adds to t e t eme ofc ase t eme and ne1er ending (att&e 2it in t e '&m) urt ermore- it5s are,resentation of t e enigma and mystery to do 2it 8ime and .ienna as a2 o&e)

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7ro,s and Costume Anot er common con1ention of t e T ri&&er genre Reed e>,&ores is t e costume

t at many c aracters- inc&uding martins- are 2earing) T is is t e c&assic tri&(y at-

suit and o1ercoat !0$) T is costume can (e seen in /nce ,on a Time in Americaand modern T ri&&ers suc as 8ut er ! $)

In t e 'rst fe2 minutes of t e T ird Man- t e audience are introduced to se1era&,ro,s t at are ty,ica& of t e T ri&&er genre) irst of a&&- t e audience are c i&&ed (yt e sig t of dead (ody Foating in t e 2ater !U$) T is is t e audiences 'rstintroduction to crimina&ity 2it in t e city of .ienna) /nce again t is is 1ery simi&arto a s ot in /nce ,on a Time America 2 ere 2e can see se1era& dead (odies in

(ody (ags) !V$ T e second encounter of crime and corru,tion in t is city is t e s ots of t e

,resumed (&ack market5) 0e can see a man se&&ing se1era& 2atc es on is s&ee1e!AA$) T is immediate&y informs t e audience t is '&m and t e city itse&f is a(outde1iance and &a2%(reakers)

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7ro,s and Costume @

A&& t roug out t e T ird Man- Reed uses (arriers to conso&idate martinsfrustration and unsuccessfu& attem,ts to catc 8ime !BB$) It gi1es t eaudience t e im,ression t at Martins is !to ,ut it c&ic Wd$* 6so c&ose(ut so far9)

urt ermore- in t e (eginning of T e T ird Man as Ho&&y Martins isa,,roac ing Harry 8imes Fat- e casua&&y 2a&ks under &adder !CC$) T is

is a common su,erstition t at causes (ad &uck) T e audience no2 ast e e>,ectation t at martins as ards i, coming is 2ay)

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Inter%Te>tua& References)

T e T ird Man out&ined many of t e no2 c&ic Wd T ri&&er con1entions 2 icmany T ri&&er directors a1e tried to emanate) 8ike ,re1ious&y mentioned- t estair case s ot is one t at as (ecome 1ery ,o,u&ar 2it in t e T ri&&er genresince t e T ird Man) T is stair s ot can (e seen in Danny Boy&e5s* S a&&o2

ra1e !"##4$ !DD$ and e1en on t e '&m ,oster you can see a s,ira& staircase!EE$)

Anot er inter%te>tua& reference 2e can o(ser1e in t e T ird Man is during t eintroduction of Harry 8ime) T is s ot is 1ery simi&ar to t e s ots of 6Nosferatut e .am,yre9 in t e "#@# ! $ and t e "#=# ! $ 1ersion) In (ot 1ersions!main&y t e &atter$ t e face of t e ou& is fu&&y i&&uminated and surrounded darkness ust &ike Harry 8ime) /(1ious&y t e "#@# 1ersion came out (efore t ere&ease of t e T ird Man so its ,ro(a(&e t at Reed 2as ins,ired (y t ese s otst is to ,ortray 8ime in an e1i&- g ou&%&ike 2ay- simi&ar to a , antom) T is isreinforced s ort&y after t is s ot 2 ere /rson 0e&&s5 c aracter seemsdisa,,ear into t e nig t in a simi&ar 2ay to a 1am,ire< a su,ernatura& (eing)

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Inter%Te>tua& references @

T e T ird Man ends 2it a fantastic s ot 2 ere Reed e>,eriments 2iteometric com,osition and a 1anis ing ,oint t at 2as 2ay a ead of

its time !HH$) T is s ot is 1ery simi&ar to one t at can (e seen in Esse>Boys !@:::$ 2 en t e c aracter of Bi&&y dri1es t roug a tunne& !II$) InEsse> Boys- t is s ot re,resents &ooking do2n a (arre& of a gun- t eend s ot in t e T ird Man not on&y ser1es to (ui&d tension 2 i&st Anna2a&ks to2ards t e camera (ut it a&so acts as an aest etica&&y ,&easingending to a e>treme&y 2e&& s ot '&m)

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Case Study 4 - The Third Man