64 The Third Man
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- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: all up in thurr
64 The Third Man
The Third Man
[img]http://criterion_production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/1586/ThirdManReplace_w100.jpg[/img]
Cynical pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime, and thus begins this legendary tale of love, deception, and murder. Thanks to brilliant performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles; Anton Karas's evocative zither score; Graham Greene's razor-sharp dialogue; and Robert Krasker's haunting deep-focus shots, off-kilter angles, and dramatic use of light and shadow, The Third Man, directed by the inimitable Carol Reed, only grows in stature as the years pass.
SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES
• New, restored high-definition digital transfer
• Video introduction by writer-director Peter Bogdanovich
• Two audio commentaries: one by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and one by film scholar Dana Polan
• Shadowing "The Third Man", a ninety-minute 2005 feature documentary on the making of the film
• Abridged recording of Graham Greene's treatment, read by actor Richard Clarke
• "Graham Greene: The Hunted Man," an hour-long, 1968 episode of the BBC's Omnibus series, featuring a rare interview with the novelist
• Who Was the Third Man? (2000), a thirty-minute German documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
• The Third Man on the radio: the 1951 A Ticket to Tangiers
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Original DVD:
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[img]http://criterion_production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/1586/ThirdManReplace_w100.jpg[/img]
Cynical pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime, and thus begins this legendary tale of love, deception, and murder. Thanks to brilliant performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles; Anton Karas's evocative zither score; Graham Greene's razor-sharp dialogue; and Robert Krasker's haunting deep-focus shots, off-kilter angles, and dramatic use of light and shadow, The Third Man, directed by the inimitable Carol Reed, only grows in stature as the years pass.
SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET FEATURES
• New, restored high-definition digital transfer
• Video introduction by writer-director Peter Bogdanovich
• Two audio commentaries: one by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and one by film scholar Dana Polan
• Shadowing "The Third Man", a ninety-minute 2005 feature documentary on the making of the film
• Abridged recording of Graham Greene's treatment, read by actor Richard Clarke
• "Graham Greene: The Hunted Man," an hour-long, 1968 episode of the BBC's Omnibus series, featuring a rare interview with the novelist
• Who Was the Third Man? (2000), a thirty-minute German documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
• The Third Man on the radio: the 1951 A Ticket to Tangiers
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Original DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
New DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
Blu-ray
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
- Gordon
- Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:03 am
I'm right with ya, Joe - this DVD is one of the reasons I invested in converted from VHS to DVD way back in the 90s. It was the first DVD I bought - imported, in fact - it cost me £33.99 ($48!!!) when acquiring R1 DVDs was very difficult for people not on the Net.
It is actually quite amazing that a film like The Third Man is available exclusively in the USA from Criterion. It could quite easily be a different story and be owned by a lesser company and with a weaker transfer and no extras at all. Still, the high price must put off a lot of buyers; it maybe ought to be a $29.95 title and probably would be if released today, although if it was released today, it would have more video extras and a commentary and the $39.95 tag would be easier to justify. Will it be revisited in late 2008 for the 60th Anniversary?
It is actually quite amazing that a film like The Third Man is available exclusively in the USA from Criterion. It could quite easily be a different story and be owned by a lesser company and with a weaker transfer and no extras at all. Still, the high price must put off a lot of buyers; it maybe ought to be a $29.95 title and probably would be if released today, although if it was released today, it would have more video extras and a commentary and the $39.95 tag would be easier to justify. Will it be revisited in late 2008 for the 60th Anniversary?
- Fletch F. Fletch
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:54 pm
- Location: Provo, Utah
- skuhn8
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Chico, CA
Was in Vienna a week before Christmas and saw Third Man at the bottom of a cinema marquee and was surprised as it definitely wasn't a small indie/art cinema. This book review kind of explains it I suppose. Definitely love this film. Top 10 in the collection IMO and a fine example of how "perfect" some films can be.
- Gordon
- Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:03 am
I'm basically piggy-backing on the Amacord thread, in which Kinjitsu informed us of recent OOP Criterions, listed here. A highly reliable site. The current transfer is not HD-sourced. I'm sure that Criterion would be a bit more adventurous with the extras, second time around - the Shadowing the Third Man would seem a must. Who would be best to record a commentary, though?
Of course, it could just be a UPC change.
Of course, it could just be a UPC change.
- dx23
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Puerto Rico
Actually, it was me who brought up and put the link that list the Third Man along with the other Criterions as going OOP on the Amacord thread:
I still think that this situation is most likely a change of UPC since Criterion is pretty sharp on announcing discontinuations or re-releases of titles before sites like Michael's Movie Mayhem recieve the information. As of right no, none of these titles are going OOP according to Criterion's site and the last newsletter.
I still think that this situation is most likely a change of UPC since Criterion is pretty sharp on announcing discontinuations or re-releases of titles before sites like Michael's Movie Mayhem recieve the information. As of right no, none of these titles are going OOP according to Criterion's site and the last newsletter.
- pzman84
- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:05 pm
A possible extra for a Third Man SE: "Shadowing the Third Man"
I do realize the some of the rights are owned by TCM but maybe Criterion could trade them a commentary or something from one of their LDs.
I do realize the some of the rights are owned by TCM but maybe Criterion could trade them a commentary or something from one of their LDs.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Technically, no, but only in terms of an official announcement. We've had good indications from Criterion that all of the titles concerned except The Third Man will be upgraded in the near future, and the original editions always go out of print before the upgraded editions are released.dx23 wrote:I still think that this situation is most likely a change of UPC since Criterion is pretty sharp on announcing discontinuations or re-releases of titles before sites like Michael's Movie Mayhem recieve the information. As of right no, none of these titles are going OOP according to Criterion's site and the last newsletter.
- kinjitsu
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:39 pm
- Location: Uffa!
- barnyard078
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:37 pm
- kinjitsu
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:39 pm
- Location: Uffa!
Apparently discontinued.barnyard078 wrote:So, is The Third Man OOP or not? Almost three months since the last post, and no new info.
- Jeff
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
With all of the rumors of a revisiting of this title, I would have sworn that it would have been paired alongside the November release of The Fallen Idol. I wonder if the upcoming release of new two-disc editions in the UK and Australia has sent Criterion back to the drawing board in terms of supplemental content. As we can see from their Double Life of Veronique disc, they are not content to merely duplicate what is being presented in other regions. I think the presence of Shadowing the Third Man is a given. They're going to need a commentary (with someone other than The Ascot) to distinguish themselves from the pack. I've never seen the spin-off television series, but I suppose that an episode or two of that might be appropriate as well.
- Jeff
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
I've got good news! It sounds like you're right, Miles.
Dear Jeffrey,
That information is correct. You can expect our Third Man re-release to hit streets around November.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to contact us with any future questions or concerns.
Best,
Matt Lipson
The Criterion Collection
- arsonfilms
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:53 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Speaking of which, the November press release is due any day now. Anybody seen it yet?
The Third Man is easily one of the most accomplished and entertaining films I've ever seen, and I'd love to see something really special done with it. Penguin released The Third Man and the retitled story that served as the basis for The Fallen Idol together in a single volume once. I'd love to see some sort of Carol Reed/Graham Greene box, but considering that Orson Welles is the more prominantly recognized figure involved, I'd imagine that The Third Man vastly outweighs Fallen Idol in popularity and acclaim, which would render a box set virtually pointless. Still, I think it'd be great to given the choice to aquire both films simultaneously (like the Malle set or Fanny and Alexander) or seprately as is clearly already planned.
The Third Man is easily one of the most accomplished and entertaining films I've ever seen, and I'd love to see something really special done with it. Penguin released The Third Man and the retitled story that served as the basis for The Fallen Idol together in a single volume once. I'd love to see some sort of Carol Reed/Graham Greene box, but considering that Orson Welles is the more prominantly recognized figure involved, I'd imagine that The Third Man vastly outweighs Fallen Idol in popularity and acclaim, which would render a box set virtually pointless. Still, I think it'd be great to given the choice to aquire both films simultaneously (like the Malle set or Fanny and Alexander) or seprately as is clearly already planned.
- daniel p
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:01 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
The Fallen Idolarsonfilms wrote:Speaking of which, the November press release is due any day now. Anybody seen it yet?
**ATTENTION CANADA - The Fallen Idol is available in English Canada only.
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- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am
its funny that it says double life is not available in canada... I wonder if amazon.ca will keep their pre-order price when the ridiculous price gouging canadian distributor tells them they can't carry it, or stop selling the item completely.
Last edited by Guest on Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
I thought I would provide the link to the Out Of The Past: Investigating Film Noir podcast on The Third Man. I've just found out about these podcasts through the link filmlover put on their website - thanks!
- skuhn8
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Chico, CA
Just sold mine on amazon for $62- sold in less than 10 hoursJoe Buck wrote:I don't want to have to buy Third Man again, although it is one of my favorite DVDs in my collection. Hope it's stellar.
just mentioning that as it mght be a good way to ease the pains of double dipping...with a cherry on top
Damn I love this film. If the folks at CC mentioned a November 06 release I suppose we can expect it springtime then?