Reed's The Third Man (1949) twists this stereotypical character in American film. Holly Martins, ironically a pulp Western author, tried to solve the crime case involving his friend, Harry Lime. The use of the Dutch angle, harsh contrast of lighting, close-ups, and especially the mise-en-scene (post-war Vienna), brings uneasiness and questioning to the audience on the character of Holly. Usually the audience roars and cheers for the main protagonist, however in this case, we are all not sure about Holly. When watching the film, my favoritism for Holly was indecisive. I was actually annoyed most of the time with him--the professionals did not need any help!
Holly's character reveals an ignorance of Americans during this time. World War II never really affected the United States in comparison to Europe and the Pacific. Vienna is in rubble and divided into four because of our causalities and bombing. Pulling one individual, such as Holly, from the the United States and placing them out of their comfort into another "world" that is in shams, caused a twist in outcomes. Holly (our supposed hero) did not get Anne, Lime ended up dead (shot by his friend Holly) because of his bad behavior, Vienna was not restored to its former glory by Holly, and Holly was not proud of his accomplishments in the end...basically he did not ride off into the sunset on his white horse.
Overall, this movie I enjoyed--mostly for the undercover meaning, cinematography, and unexpectedly its sarcasm. A jolly British gent introducing the prominent and lavish Venice, at its height of age? Nope, it is “bombed about a bit” that is all. The last shot in The Third Man, is beautiful. All vectors, the trees and road, leading to Anne. Similarly, the livelier natural lighting and the graceful descent of the leaves from the trees. A romantic moment the audience anticipates in this exquisitely crafted shot…however, like throughout the movie, it twists to the unexpected. I love the use of the Dutch angle, and shadows. Film noir lighting brings an eerie and haunting ambiance…the unknown figure on the wall…it is a man selling balloons? Oh boy!
The Third Man is a movie that questions the ideal of how the typical Hollywood movie and looks into a mirror that most of the audience members would not like. Once you look in the mirror…all you see is rubble…caused by our own doing.
P.S. to the Reader: The article that describes the relationship to Holly and Lime homoerotic (and Anne is just a cover-up)...did any of you get that same vibe from the two characters? Cause I think not!
Some really good, detailed observations here. You work along the difference between appearances and reality nicely, and draw in useful ways from class discussion with regard to Holly as the out of place and somewhat clueless American, and the way heroic conventions are twisted here. I'd have liked to see more explicit use of the main ideas in the reading--I suppose something could be made of homoerotic tension between Holly and Harry, given that it was the most genuinely emotional relationship, but it's not particularly important, and not the most important point made in the reading. Would you mind using a more conventional font, please? White on black is hard to read, and the cursive on top of that makes for serious eyestrain :-)
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