Third Man Film Anniversary In Vienna
A famous film about Vienna has celebrated its 70th year but will do it all over again also in 2024 its 75th year!
The Graham Greene story of The Third Man was never meant to be read…just filmed!
Third Man Film anniversary will be celebrated over tow years in Vienna.
Film Director Carol Reed used the bombed-out city and Greene’s film script for the thriller.
The film used the backdrop of Vienna with the black market undertones that thrived at the time for this classic film noir, which was first screened in the UK in 1949.
© Geoff Moore. Herbert Halbik was the young actor who played ‘Little Hansl’ in the 1949 film the Third Man. Pictured attending an event at the Third Man Museum in Vienna in 2005.
However, countries like Germany and Austria did not get to see the launch of the film until 1950.
And hence the chance for The Third Man Film Museum in Vienna to have a second year of anniversaries!
Third Man Or Dritte Mann
Gerhard Strassgschwandtner who runs this private film museum The Dritte Mann Museum with his partner Karin Hofler. Who together have collected a staggering number of items related to the film, its stars, crew and extras.
Karin Hofler in just one section of the Third Man Film Museum in Vienna.
What started in New York over 20 years ago with Gerhard buying a film poster has now evolved into an archive style collection of memorabilia housed in several basement rooms that seem to fit perfectly with the theme of the film and its below ground sequences.
Key parts of the story were set and filmed in the sewers of Vienna. Although many shots were in fact also filmed in the studio in London.
Try a sewer tour in Vienna.
The museum in Pressegasse in Vienna’s 4th District opened in 2005 and as the collection grew so did the acquisition of more cellar rooms for the displaying the artefacts gleaned from auctions and through personal approaches to relations or contacts with anyone connected to the film.
Museum Dedicated To Third Man Film
Items like the zither that was once played by Anton Karas who performed the haunting film theme on it and that went onto become a worldwide musical hit in the early 1950’s.
Gerhard with the zither used by Anton Karas to play the film theme on display at the Third Man Film Museum.
Film cameras, film projectors, posters, even uniforms of the different Allied army units are on show. As is a tiny hat worn by the little boy that featured in the film. Local Viennese boy Herbert Halbik was three at the time he played ‘Little Hansel’ and his hat, photos and other items are on display.
Little Hansel’s hat that was used in the film when Herbert Halbik was just a young boy when he wore it.
One item is certainly treasured by the couple. That is the film script used by British actor Trevor Howard who played the military policeman Major Calloway in the film.
Karin with the Trevor Howard film script at the Third Man Film Museum in Vienna.
What is so special about it is the fact that throughout the typewritten document is that every sequence he was in. He made he entered numerous annotations on it. Leaving an almost day by day diary account of the film shoot sequences.
Third Man Film Anniversary
Comments, alterations and dates were recorded in great detail. Making this a historical document that any fan of the film would find valuable in understanding the process used by director, Carol Reed.
Location where ‘Harry Lime’ made his entrance into the film still can be seen in Vienna.
Although Trevor Howard was a leading British star, two American actors Joseph Cotten who played Holly Martins. With certainly the most famous was Orson Welles.
Who appears eventually after nearly an hour into the film as racketeer Harry Lime. In a sequence that is a legend in the movie business.
Third Man Continues In The City
There were also other leading actors from Europe of the time. Alida Valli from Italy who played Harry’s girlfriend. Paul Horbiger born in Budapest as Harry’s porter. Bernard Lee who much later was in James Bond as ‘M’ and also Wilfred Hyde-White appeared too. Also Herbert Halbik the young actor who played ‘Little Hansl’ in the film who died in 2025.
A few years ago markings were placed around the city to show where Vienna was split into four areas.
But its Howard’s script that has centre stage at the museum that now very much tells the story of the film itself.
The museum also helps to inform visitors about the city of Vienna at that time. Following after the end of World War II the city was divided into four sections.
The American, British, French and Russian sectors. Times were hard, the city was flattened by bombing. Understanding that history helps to understand the film.
The giant Ferris wheel the Riesenrad played its part in the film 70 years ago.
Today many of the film locations used during the filming in 1948 can still be seen. The giant Ferris wheel the Riesenrad, is still there.
Still Able To Follow The Locations
Around €12 will get you a ride and where you can share the view that Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten had in one of their key scenes, although you cannot open the doors now!
The sewers are not missed out either. You can during the Spring to Autumn take tours to see the place where some of the scenes were filmed.
Sewer tour part of the Third Man Film anniversary experience in Vienna.
Walking tours of the city also offer a chance to track down many more film locations and the Timmermann family offer those most of the year.
Not seen the film?
No problem, you can watch it still in the city several times every week on the big screen at the Burg Kino cinema which it has done for many years now.
Film enthusiasts Gerhard and Karin have reached the stage where they have an almost complete collection having covered all aspects of the film. They feel that what they now have is pretty well all that’s out there.
Collection Of Third Man Items
If any new items do come on the market and they are not too expensive then they may be interested.
However, Gerhard feels that any huge expense at this time on newer items is not possible as he says, “I still have a real job and the collection is a hobby, not my business!”
The museum is generally open on Saturdays 2pm to 6pm. But generally closed from January until the end of February.
They do run private tours for prearranged parties.
