The Third Man in Vienna
The Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater, the Vienna sewers, Orson Welles and the haunting zither music of Anton Karas – The Third Man painted a picture of Vienna previously unseen on the big screen. Director Carol Reed presented the story of the smuggler Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles, which turns into a game of cat and mouse set in the Vienna of 1948. While Reed portrays the city’s dark side, like the sewers and the rubble left by the war, the film also shows the picturesque streets of the old town and Viennese trademarks such as the Giant Ferris Wheel.
Today, “The Third Man” has lost none of its fascinating qualities, as visitors can see for themselves by taking a Third Man tour.
With the help of pictures and music samples, the Third Man walking tour gives visitors a taste of the film’s atmosphere and follows the trail of Harry Lime to original locations in the Old Town, such as Josephsplatz and Mölkerbastei.
The Third Man Tour - Canal takes visitors down the original staircase from the movie into one of the older parts of Vienna's sewer system. The cholera canals were built in the 1830s and have been nearly untouched to this day. Modern projection and light technology lets the visitors immerse themselves in the world of sewer workers, movie agents, smugglers and spies. The conclusion of the tour offers a unique "subterranean view" of the Wien River. The river disappears in a massive arched vault below the Naschmarkt, impressively illuminated by spotlights.
The Burgkino cinema on Opernring shows The Third Man every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. A digitally restored version of the film in the new 4K resolution was released worldwide as a collector’s edition on DVD and BluRay in summer 2015.
Display alternative text
VIENNA / NOW - Vienna in Film
The Third Man Museum also offers more insights into the world of this cinema classic. Besides numerous props from the film, and photos and objects from the post-WWII era, Anton Karas’ zither from the world-famous theme tune is also on display here. The Third Man tour takes in both the Third Man Museum and the Burg Kino cinema. A visit to one of the stopping points entitles visitors to discounts on the others.
Popular destinations for outings include the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) in Simmering – which can be seen at the beginning and end of the film – and the traditional Prater amusement park with its Giant Ferris Wheel. The location for one of the film’s main scenes offers amazing views over the city.
