I write mysteries and suspense stories.  One of my inspirations, over the years, has been the old film, The Third Man.  It’s come back to life and is getting attention in theaters.  It should.  Written by the great spy novelist, Grahame Green, The Third Man signaled a new type of film when it was first released in the 1940s.  Today, we take some of the film’s ground breaking aspects for granted; we even expect them.  But at the time, these features were new and mysterious.  Besides, not many films have done these things as well.

What should you look for?

1.  The setting.  For movies and novels alike, the setting is so important.  Particularly for mysteries, spy novels, horror stories, etc. the location and “feel” of the place are critical.  The Third Man is set in post-WW II Vienna.  Filmed in black and white (I’d forgotten how powerful the lack of color can be—even thought color wasn’t common at the time of its release), the camera travels through the bombed-out, desolate sections of Vienna.  Deserted and spooky—just this kind of place you’d expect a spy, murder, or mystery to occur.  But then, much of the action takes place inside gorgeous, old palaces with odd statutes all over the place.  The contrast between destruction and the beauty of the art is powerful.  

2.  The characters.  Even thought mysteries and spy stories depend on plot and surprises to thrill viewers/readers, no story can stand without great characters.  The Third Man has them all.  I mean, all of the characters are well written and acted.  Particularly, the man everyone is looking for—played by Orsen Welles—has only a short time in the movie, but I’m reminded why he was such a good actor.  As they say, “he steals the show.”  Go to see how well the part can be acted.

3.  The Third Man will remind you of Alfred Hitchcock films.  The same attention to details, the mysterious glance, the shot of someone’s shoes—without revealing who they belong to, and the hero in one scene, frustrated and tired, stops at a fountain where a cherub looks down at him with sympathy.  The British Film Institute rated this film as the best of the 20th Century!

I know it’s kind of an obscure film and I admit it doesn’t have any violence, sex, super heroes, or special effects.  But it’s still worth a look!  Here’s another review:  http://www.startribune.com/movie-spotlight-orson-welles-in-the-third-man-at-edina-cinema/320059281/