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The Third Man
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Carol Reed. With Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard.
7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Major Calloway, and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna.
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7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTIn postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Third Man.
MoviHero lists August 31, 1949 as the release date for The Third Man. Carol Reed is the listed director. The listed cast includes Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Trevor Howard as Major Calloway, Orson Welles as Harry Lime. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateAugust 31, 1949
GenresMystery · Thriller
Runtime1h 45m
DirectorCarol Reed
CastJoseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Trevor Howard as Major Calloway, Orson Welles as Harry Lime
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Third Man right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Third Man runs 1h 45m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 7/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 7/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 6/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Third Man. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
But shorterYour House2026 · 11m
94 minutes shorter (11m). Shared genre: mystery, thriller.
But less emotionally intenseHeartland2026 · Runtime unavailableEstimated emotional impact: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: mystery, thriller.
But less demandingThe Fixation2026 · 2h 3mEstimated attention required: 4/10 versus 7/10. Shared genre: thriller.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.9/10 from 2,225 votes. Updated Nov 12, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing7/10
Emotional Impact6/10
Mind-Bending7/10
Scary2/10
Violence5/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required7/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Third Man
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Can a good movie be spoiled by an inadequate soundtrack?”
Viewer reaction
“Joseph Cotton ("Holly") arrives in post war Vienna to meet up with his former school friend "Harry Lime" - only to discover that he was…”
Viewer reaction
“Holly Martens (Joseph Cotten) receives a job offer from his friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in postwar occupied Vienna.”
More reactions (1)
Viewer reaction
“Nobody thinks in terms of human beings. Governments don't. Why should we? The Third Man is directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
Where The Third Man fits.
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