Classic Movies: The Story of…: The Third Man (Sky Arts Thursday 31 August 2023)

Classic Movies: The Story of…: The Third Man airs Thursday 31 August 2023 on Sky Arts

What can we expect from this episode

Film experts and enthusiasts discuss the inspiration for some of cinema’s all-time classics across six episodes.

The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed and starring Orson Welles, is our first selection. The film follows American writer Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton), who is on the run from his old friend and agent of corruption Harry Lime (Welles), through the ruins of a divided post-war Vienna to the tune of an instantly recognisable zither-based soundtrack by Anton Karas.

While Graham Greene wrote the sharp screenplay, Orson Welles deserves most of the credit for the unforgettable “cuckoo clock” speech he gives on the Wiener Riesenrad.

Classic Movies: The Story of… goes in search of the cinematically sublime. Those films that have transcended their era to enter the pantheon of greats.

With each episode devoted to a single film, their story will be told with detail, affection, looking for the truth behind the myth, all the trials and triumphs that went into forging a classic. But this isn’t simply history, the standard making of, it’s about identifying those ingredients immortal scenes, performances, themes, luxuriant cinematography, art direction, special effects, music, even the power of a single line – that elevate a film to a new level.

Hosted by Ian Nathan, guide us through the story from inception to legacy, supplemented with regular input along with special guest, with unique insight, historians who have devoted entire books, and visit to special location, where they shot or that served as  a key inspiration, bringing each of these films to life with a dynamic presentation. We are on a journey to find out not what makes a film good, but what makes it classic. 

Season 1 Episode 1

When can we see the episode

Classic Movies: The Story of…: The Third Man airs Thursday 31 August 2023 at 20:00 on Sky Arts

Featured image credit: Sky Arts