The Thrid Man
Director: Carol Reed
Country Made: Vienna
Awards: Won 3 Nominated for 3
Country Made: Vienna
Awards: Won 3 Nominated for 3
Generic signifiers are used frequently throughout ‘The Third Man’ from costume and lighting to being filmed in black and white.
In the opening sequence, there is a close up, canted shot of a suitcase including black shoes, (representing the black market) clothes and paint.
The odd angle shows confusion and disorientation, there is also a shot of an arm full of watches, with these shots and no faces shown the third man is instantly establishing what kind of thriller film it is with its introduction to crime and danger in unglamorous settings, also proven by the dead body in the river.
The music played introduces subtle humour into the sequence of events, which in a generic thriller would be replaced by tension building music.
We are shown in establishing shots the divided city and soldiers, filmed just after the war with a British army captain voice over showing significance to the time and setting of this film.
We are introduced to Holly Martin dressed in a generic costume to a thriller film; trilby hat, long coat, polished shoes and a briefcase which immediately creates interest surrounding his character.
Holly Martin also walks under a ladder again showing the black humour surrounding this film and possibly symbolising Holly’s bad luck.
The director uses many different camera angles creating a sense of distress in Holly’s safety.
Low angles and canted shots show the streets of Vienna as a maze in which Holly could easily be lost.
The long shadows from the streetlights and dark alleys show the mystery of this city at night and Holly’s vulnerability to his new settings.
Holly’s shadows cast on the wall of the staircase shows mystery and build tension and can make Harry look both strong and vulnerable, he seems scared yet comforted by his shadow as it would be easily detectable if he were not alone.
His footsteps also create eeriness and build tension, both the footsteps and shadows being another generic thriller aspect of ‘The Third Man’
In the opening sequence, there is a close up, canted shot of a suitcase including black shoes, (representing the black market) clothes and paint.
The odd angle shows confusion and disorientation, there is also a shot of an arm full of watches, with these shots and no faces shown the third man is instantly establishing what kind of thriller film it is with its introduction to crime and danger in unglamorous settings, also proven by the dead body in the river.
The music played introduces subtle humour into the sequence of events, which in a generic thriller would be replaced by tension building music.
We are shown in establishing shots the divided city and soldiers, filmed just after the war with a British army captain voice over showing significance to the time and setting of this film.
We are introduced to Holly Martin dressed in a generic costume to a thriller film; trilby hat, long coat, polished shoes and a briefcase which immediately creates interest surrounding his character.
Holly Martin also walks under a ladder again showing the black humour surrounding this film and possibly symbolising Holly’s bad luck.
The director uses many different camera angles creating a sense of distress in Holly’s safety.
Low angles and canted shots show the streets of Vienna as a maze in which Holly could easily be lost.
The long shadows from the streetlights and dark alleys show the mystery of this city at night and Holly’s vulnerability to his new settings.
Holly’s shadows cast on the wall of the staircase shows mystery and build tension and can make Harry look both strong and vulnerable, he seems scared yet comforted by his shadow as it would be easily detectable if he were not alone.
His footsteps also create eeriness and build tension, both the footsteps and shadows being another generic thriller aspect of ‘The Third Man’
1 comment:
A mainly minimal/basic grasp of aspects of mise-en-scene. Use of media terminology lacks confidence whilst interpretation of film language is often descriptive and superficial.
Level 1-2...about 7-8/20.
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