The Third Man: The Official Story of the Film

by John Walsh

The official retrospective for the British cinematic masterpiece The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed, written by Graham Greene, and starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles, on its 75th anniversary. On its release in 1949, Carol Reed's atmospheric film noir thriller The Third Man instantly became a classic, winning the Palm d'Or at Cannes, a BAFTA for Best British Film, and the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Featuring some of cinema's most memorable set pieces and quotable lines, the film's war-torn Viennese locations quickly etch themselves in the memory—the vast sewers, the Ferris wheel, the tree-lined cemetery. It marks one of those unusual conjunctions of script, director, subject, cast, and setting—and, of course, music—in which everything works. In time for the movie's 75th anniversary, this beautiful, illustrated book comprehensively covers the making of the movie, acknowledged as the masterwork of many of its key Carol Reed as director; cast members including Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles; novelist/screenwriter Graham Greene; and composer of the instantly recognizable zither score Anton Karas. The battle for ownership of the film between US producer David O. Selznick and the British producer Alexander Korda, which developed into protracted legal proceedings, is explored, as is the lasting influence the movie has had on modern filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese. This stunning book features original versions of the script and behind-the-scenes photography making it a must-have for any film fan.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

John Walsh is a double BAFTA and double Grierson-nominated filmmaker, best-selling author and founder of Walsh Bros Ltd, one of the UK’s top 100 production companies.
John met Ray Harryhausen as a film student to make a documentary about his life and work. Today, John is a Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation and, in 2021, founded the Harryhausen Awards.

His books include Harryhausen The Lost Movies and his acclaimed non-fiction Official Story of the Film series with titles on Flash Gordon, Escape From New York and Dr Who & The Daleks. All four Rondo Award Nominees for “Book of the Year”. 2023 saw the release of Conan The Barbarian, and The Wicker Man. 2024 saw the publication of The Third Man: The Official Story of the Film, celebrating the 75th anniversary of “The best British film of all time.” New book in 2025, Gladiator II: The Art and Making of the Ridley Scott Film.

John's notable film and television work includes the historical feature film Monarch, restored and remastered after John tracked down the original 35mm camera negative in a film vault and was the subject of a BBC News story about lost films and is now available on Prime Video.

ToryBoy The Movie was nominated for the Grierson Award for “Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme.” The film unlocked politics to a broad audience and is Britain’s most successful political documentary feature film. It is now available on Prime Video.
John’s landmark Grierson-nominated homeless series Headhunting The Homeless for BBC2 lifted the lid on the corporate world and today’s most vulnerable adults. Sofa Surfers for the BBC was television’s first homeless series for children and was Rose d'Or nominated. The BAFTA-nominated Don’t Make Me Angry brought clinical psychology into the home environment for the first time. All programmes can be viewed in full on the Walsh Bros YouTube Channel.

Reviews

[Jane Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this film and was thrilled it was finally getting a big coffee table art book treatment. The new images alone make this a five-star must-read. I have followed author John Walsh's other work. His books are fascinating and delve deep into both the technical and political machinations of making a British film. I hope to see more from Walsh. This is a great read and is as much of a page-turner as any thriller.

[Val McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to finally get my hands on this book about the making of The Third Man from 1949. I have loved this film from the first time I saw it and have read everything about it out there. Without a shadow of a doubt (no pun intended), this is the best and definitive version of the making of this classic film noir. From Graham Greene's origins to the battle behind the scenes, you can almost feel, touch and smell the experience; so vivid is the approach John Walsh has taken in this book. High-resolution photography breathes new life into this old classic. Take a bow, sir!

[C Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, detailed look at a classic film. Fascinating detail about the making of it especially the seamless filming in location and studios. Highly recommend.

[Bruce R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classy treatment of a classic movie
How does a movie set in sewers and war-ravaged streets, filmed in shadows or at night, where the ‘hero’ doesn’t get the girl and the main character turns out to be a crook become a classic? Read John Walsh’s ‘making of’ book and you’ll find out. Walsh has done another super job. And like his other ‘makings of’ the treatment of Third Man is unique. Settle in for a deep dive that doesn’t feel laboured, with vignettes that are little gems and each of the many photographs a revelation. John Walsh’s treatment of Third Man is first rate – get it!

[Richard Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have bought all of John Walsh’s books. This one intrigued me. I had only seen the film once and was not a significant fan. I am now! As a cinema student and a fan of Walsh, I hoped this would be like his other books. It's a heady mix of text and visuals, much like good cinema. It was. The behind-the-scenes story of how this film was nearly not made at all is fascinating. A lot of information has been written about and discussed about this film, and I was delighted with my purchase. I have constantly been amazed by the high quality and rarity of the pictures. Plus, writer John Walsh has been like a modern-day Indiana Jones digging up. I bought two copies as this is an ideal Christmas present too.

[George Kaplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This film is often called “the best British film ever made”, which is a very high bar for new viewers. But for its time, it stands up remarkably well. Now, John Walsh’s latest making of the book does the film justice with what looks to be a sparkling restoration of images from the film and the history of its longevity. I like the updated touches with the Third Man Museum in Vienna, which is on my bucket list, and speaking with British composer Neil Brand to get a new perspective on the classic Zither music score. Lots have been written before by John Walsh, who always gets the balance right between visual treats and text. My score for this is five stars!

[RogerThornhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the Shadows! In its day, 75 years ago, The Third Man was praised and then forgotten for a few decades. It has taken the best part of 50 years for it to receive any notice at all. Like a fine wine 50 years later, it is enjoyed by all. The book from filmmaker and author John Walsh is a real treat. I have his other making-of books; this is the icing on the cake. Who knew there was so much more to glean from this classic British noir thriller? Excellent writing, marvellous photography, poster art, and designs will be found here.