The greatest British film of all time is on BBC Two today
This Carol Reed noir classic is set just after World War 2.
Watch the official trailer for The Third Man
Having written, produced, directed and starred in the greatest film of all time, Citizen Kane, at just 25, Orson Welles ended up leading the greatest British film of all time just a few years later.
The Third Man is a 1949 film noir directed by Carol Reed and also features Joseph Cotten, Welles’ Citizen Kane co-star.
The film is notable for its black and white German Expressionist-style cinematography helmed by Robert Krasker.
As for the plot, The Third Man takes place in Allied-occupied Vienna after World War 2.
Cotten’s Holly Martins arrives in Vienna to accept a job from his pal Harry Lime (Welles), who he soon discovers has suddenly died. Staying in the city, he becomes infatuated with the deceased man’s girlfriend, Anna Schmidt, played by Alida Valli. The film was voted the greatest British film of all time by the BFI in 1999.
The Third Man is on BBC Two at 11:25am today.
