The Third Man (1949) - If one of those dots stopped moving forever

[BM309K58SMERCH]

2:10 for the famous line.

[StapleTaper]

Okay...important question. I keep hearing, "What can I do about it; I'm dead, honey. Holly..." He does say 'honey', right? I'm not just hoping he does?

[patiomkin2001]

@StapleTaper I also heard that, and it seems that you're right.

[JustinThoj]

Something about Orson Welles' attitude in this scene that's so damn eye catching. Ever little movement, the way he talks, along with the camera work just makes his character so damn believable.

[CRFilmProduction]

I saw this in a revival theater showing and I remember him saying "you call then victims....I call them saps...suckers...." don't you just love eye witness testimony. :P

[morgantown1]

Good fellows on the whole. Did their best, you know.

[infinitehope23]

Orson Welles is mesmerizing

[tim60s321]

"Dont be so gloomy- after all its not that awful -what the fellow said- In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare ,terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance ....In Switzerland they had brotherly love- they had 500 years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long, Holly". BRILLIANT

[Malaka57]

@tim60s321 Except for the fact that Switzerland did not produce cuckoo clocks :-) Those are from the Black Forest.... Switzerland made watches and still does... And the country is now home to most of the feudal corporations that run the planet.

[tim60s321]

@Malaka57( I sent you a longer message.) As with most things, the history of the cuckoo clock is long and complex-it seems they were originally made in eastern Germany and only became a speciality of The Black Forest region in the 17th C And of course Switzerland is a great place for people and businesses to store money, avoid paying tax or to avoid the attention of people investigating criminality etc They do make excellent upmarket watches of the mechanical variety.

[DrCruel]

@tim60s321 Actually, for centuries the most lucrative export of Switzerland was mercenaries. Some of the most expert butchery amongst the Italian city states was done at the hands of these professional Swiss pikemen. They were the terror of the Condottieri, and Cesare Borgia was one of their most enthusiastic employers. The Valois kings of France rather fancied them too.

There were reasons why the other Europeans left Switzerland alone. Swiss pacifism wasn't one of them.

[Raccido]

We watched this movie in English class this year, so many people saying how terrible the acting was, but dammit if Orson Wells doesn't give some of the best dialogue I have ever seen here.

[Nojnotpu]

This film blows me away. I can watch it over and over and every time I do, I see something new in it.

[ForerunnerLuke]

Wells: I need to tell you that I am the King of Team Plasma.

Wait... wrong Ferris Wheel scene.

[direwire]

I've seen the whole movie about 3 or 4 times, and everytime Lime opens the cabin's door I feel its me and not Holly the one in danger of hitting the ground along those "little black dots".

[IJG26]

Last Sept I finally had the opportunity to ride the Ferris Wheel in Vienna reminding me of the film which I saw on its initial release. This scene is a fine example of the sociopathic personality expounding on how he sees the world-one without remorse or pity. This cynicism is in part a result of WW2 and is reflected in many films of that time. Wells is so perfect for the part and the direction exemplary.

[TheShirEl]

@IJG26 I think it is true after any major war. There was a tremendous upsurge in violence and murder following the American Civil War as well.

[silvernail6]

This movie is more appreciated after every time I view it....time to buy it....not that I buy many....Welles.....what could you say that hasn't been said before......the word "dots" has taken on another meaning......Howard has some great lines.....Vienna post war.....the perfect back drop considering Paris was considered initially.....sublime

[adivertirse]

Cotten tries to call-down Wells and Wells doesn't take it as that, his answers and cynism are above moral and behaviour. He does and says whatever he wants. This scene is great, genial!

[CranberryCru]

I think of this every time I see that one episode from Law & Order.

[dukemike1987]

Apparently Welles ad-libed the part about the cuckoo clock

[GoldenSilents]

@dukemike1987 The cuckoo clock lines were not ad libbed, he wrote them out beforehand and they were incorporated into the script.

[WSenator1]

Harry Lime's speech is one chilling speech. I think he'd be right at home in the 21st Century.

[McGrenzer]

@WSenator1 I'm afraid Harry Lime could make himself rich and comfortable in just about any century, Senator. He knows all the angles and feels no guilt for his actions.

[WSenator1]

@McGrenzer - Agreed - sad but true.

[WSenator1]

@McGrenzer - Got that right! Evil is at home in every millenium.