As cynical and hard edged as any noir...but with many funny moments thrown in as well. Graham Greene's only screenplay is an all time classic on its own, but throw in Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, Alida Valli, and of course Orson Welles, it becomes one of the all time greats.
Holly Martins is a broke writer, who has arrived in post war Vienna at the behest of his dear friend, Harry Lime, (Orson Welles) on the promise of work. Arriving in a foreign city, which, just happens to be under occupied rule by 4 separate nations, Holly is confused to not be met by his friend. Only later on does he learn that his friend was killed by a car careening out of control. Dazed, he tries to make sense of the news, and wants to find anyone that can help him find out more about his late friend. What he finds, however, will shatter his world, and the friendship he thought was the best in his life.
If you have not seen this film, please do yourself a favor and watch it. It is so well acted, and directed, that even Vienna and it's denizens become another character unto themselves, all with secrets to keep.
Remember, "Don't be so gloomy...In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had 500 years of democracy and peace. And what did they produce? The cuckoo clock"
Holly Martins is a broke writer, who has arrived in post war Vienna at the behest of his dear friend, Harry Lime, (Orson Welles) on the promise of work. Arriving in a foreign city, which, just happens to be under occupied rule by 4 separate nations, Holly is confused to not be met by his friend. Only later on does he learn that his friend was killed by a car careening out of control. Dazed, he tries to make sense of the news, and wants to find anyone that can help him find out more about his late friend. What he finds, however, will shatter his world, and the friendship he thought was the best in his life.
If you have not seen this film, please do yourself a favor and watch it. It is so well acted, and directed, that even Vienna and it's denizens become another character unto themselves, all with secrets to keep.
Remember, "Don't be so gloomy...In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had 500 years of democracy and peace. And what did they produce? The cuckoo clock"