In Search of the Third Man

Rating:
Summary: Great Research and Anecdotes
Review: "In Search of the Third Man" is a well researched work that is ambitiously written and contains numerous fascinating anecdotes about one of the greatest films ever made, Sir Carol Reed's "The Third Man." Charles Drazin takes us back in time to just after World War Two in Vienna, making the reader feel a part of the dramatic filmmaking process. The activities were so involved as well as interesting that a movie about the making of "The Third Man" might prove almost as interesting as the magnificent cinema classic itself.

The film was a co-production effort involving Britain and America. Two legendary figures were involved in each continent, the fascinating Eastern European emigre Sir Alexander Korda in London and David O. Selznick in Hollywood. Assistant director Guy Hamilton relates that dealing with Selznick's renowned memos entailed virtually a full time job in itself. Selznick was worried at various points about Joseph Cotten being too much of a bumbler, making Americans in general look bad, as well as fearing that Cotten and his longtime friend from Mercury Theater days, Orson Welles, were both "frustrated writers" who would make life miserable for Reed by ad libbing lines. As fate turned out, only one ad lib was delivered, Welles' memorable line to Cotten after exiting the giant ferris wheel in the Vienna Woods about Italy achieving the Renaissance during a 30 year period of bloodshed and Switzerland, after centuries of peace, becoming notable for the cuckoo clock.

One humorous segment of the book involves the pursuit of Welles, who had fled throughout Europe before being discovered in Venice, the actor's way of obtaining revenge against Korda for a period of inactivity while under contract to him. Once that Welles arrived in Vienna he panicked over doing scenes in the city's sewer system, where some of the most dramatic moments of the film occur when police chase the racketeer near the movie's end. An unruffled Reed announced that the sewer system scenes involving Welles would be shot on new sets at Sheperton Studios outside London, where many of the interiors were shot.

One of the most unique features of the film was the substitution of zither player Anton Karas for what would normally be a symphonic musical background. The book reveals how Reed stuck to his guns in the wake of criticism of his idea by Sheperton's musical director, Dr. Hubert Clifford. We also learn just how and where Karas was found, along with reading interesting details of his audition in Reed's hotel room during one of the few days when cast and crew were not busy.

Drazin reveals his theory about screenwriter Graham Greene's real life model of the film's villain, Harry Lime, who was played so convincingly by Welles. Drazin believes that Lime was modeled after Kim Philby, the British intelligence operative who spied for Russia.

Rating:
Summary: The real story behind Harry Lime and The Third Man
Review: 'The Third Man' movie was recently voted best of 100 films ever made and I agree. Everything about it shouts quality, from the haunting zither music, the lighting and camera angles and the location shots of Vienna post war. Every frame is truly a Rembrandt especially in the newly restored 50th anniversary edition available from Amazon, but this books tops it all - the story behind the filming of the movie.

How Charles Drazin found all the background stories about Karas, Greene, Reed and Welles beats me. It 'wasn't for German gin' and he did 'dig deeper than the grave' (to quote from the film!)

If you loved the film, adored the music and had a sneaking admination for Harry Lime, take the Third Man Tour when next in Vienna, but above all get this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Mediocre Piece of Film Criticism
Review: Drazin's writing is barely adequate. He presents his narrative out of sequence, giving the reader the impression of a hastily produced first draft. The book is a marvelous example of the British inferiority complex, as Drazin goes to great lengths to marginalize the contributions of the American participants. Joseph Cotten, the film's leading man, is referenced only in passing, while the size and texture of Carol Reed's bowel movements are discussed in great detail. I found it disappointing to discover that the art of film criticism has advanced no further than the art of dentistry in Drazin's homeland. Yes, The Third Man is a great film, but an objective account of the production has yet to be written. Perhaps in the far distant future, when the misguided citizens of Great Britain acquire culinary skills and overthrow their antiquated monarchy, we may hope to see such a book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book spoils the magic
Review: If I were a film student, or a producer, or involved in movies at all, I would have rated this book a full 5 stars. However, I am not, I am just a great admirer of "The Third Man" in all its forms - movies, radio, television, and music. I was very interested in finding out the story behind the making of this classic movie. I learned, for example, that at one point, Jimmy Stewart was considered for the role of Martins. I also learned that Orson Welles proved to be his usual difficult self during the filming, such as refusing to run under the water in the sewer.

I will stop this review here with a warning - if you do not want the magic of this film to be ruined for you, do not read this book. Continue with your suspended disbelief, and buy the book to display on your mantel. After reading this book, you will never be able to view the movie again without scanning for the elements and production techniques you read about.

Rating:
Summary: You will want to go 'In Search of The Third Man' yourself!
Review: If you loved the film then this book is a must. Charles Drazin has written a fantastic book which keeps the magic of the film alive and brings the reader behind the scenes of the making of the film with all the juicy stories you would expect of a book of this type. What I particularly liked were the parts where he has gone to Vienna himself in an attempt to retrace the steps of this glorious film. I must admit that on a recent trip to Vienna, I myself went around the city, book in hand, looking for the famous locations myself. With the help of the book I was able to find all the locations without having to go on the guided tour, including the grave used as Harry's in the Zentralfriedhof (and it's a BIG cemetry!). One small disappointment though was the rather simple explanation as to why the signs in Harry's apartment building have changed language over the years. I will not elaborate here but readers of the book will know what I am talking about.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Birthday Present
Review: Mr Drazin presents his book "In Search of the Third Man" as a 50th birthday tribute to this "most loved and enduring of British films". A glance at the internet shows just how popular the Third Man remains - especially since the release of the anniversary DVD/Video. However many of the comments on the net - particularly on the roles of Reed, Selznick and Wells appear to be misguided, and it is greatly to the author's credit that he has produced what appears to be the definitive work on the film which gives the lie to some of the more extravagant claims.
He examines the work of Graham Greene, exploring the authors connections with Kim Philby, "the fourth man" and gives us a resume of a modern day trip to Vienna - where the complexity of the films construction between location shots and later work at Shepperton Studios is clarified. This is a super book - an absolutely "must read" for any Third Man fan - I can't think of a better way of paying tribute to a wonderful film.