The book
The Third Man by Graham Greene is a taut, atmospheric novella set in post-war Vienna, a city divided by occupation and riddled with suspicion. When pulp writer Holly Martins arrives to visit his old friend Harry Lime, he instead finds himself drawn into a web of deception, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. Greene’s sharp prose and noir sensibility explore loyalty, corruption, and the uneasy line between idealism and reality.
The film
Directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles, The Third Man (1949) is widely regarded as one of the greatest British films ever made. With its striking black-and-white cinematography, tilted angles, and unforgettable zither score, the film captures the shadowy intrigue of a fractured city. Building tension through atmosphere and moral complexity, it transforms Greene’s story into a masterclass in film noir and post-war suspense.
