Three's A Crowd

There are no flying back-kicks. No multi-car pile-ups or explosions. No gee-whiz special effects. But for our money--and by the account of countless film critics--there's no better suspense movie than The Third Man. Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) is a naive American pulp Western writer who travels to the cesspool of...

By Patrick Williams

March 4, 2010

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There are no flying back-kicks. No multi-car pile-ups or explosions. No gee-whiz special effects. But for our money--and by the account of countless film critics--there's no better suspense movie than The Third Man. Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) is a naive American pulp Western writer who travels to the cesspool of postwar Vienna at the invitation of old chum Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to find that Lime has been killed in an accident. Or has he? Set to a jangling zither score and filmed in stunning, Academy Award-winning black and white, director Carol Reeds' classic film noir explores all shades of gray as Martins unravels the mystery of Lime's death--revealing dark schemes and dirty deeds, including Martins' ultimate betrayal of a friend. Dark and sly and cynical--and ranked by various critics as one of the Top 100 movies ever made--The Third Man is the sort of movie The Bourne Identity wants to be when it grows up. See for yourself as The Third Man plays at midnight Friday and Saturday at the Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. Call 214-764-9106.
Fri., March 12; Sat., March 13, 2010

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Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams