'The world doesn't make any heroes outside of your stories.'

The Third Man is always name checked as an essential Film Noir, but I definitely wouldn't call it quintessential. It's a terrific movie, but one that plays surprisingly more like a caper than a noir. That's definitely a strength and not a weakness - the mystery is compelling, the chases are thrilling and the dialogue is amusing - it's evident why it's an enduring classic.

Observations:
- I did not care for the lack of variation in the score.
- While the cinematography is brilliant, some of the iconic sewer shots are surprisingly fleeting.
- Orson Welles is really, really great.

See Also:
The 39 Steps