the turmoil of post war vienna provide the backdrop for the story of the third man and some exquisite expressionistic cinematography be use to convey the sense of menace and pessimism which prevail in the city at that time . the plot centre on two men and the way in which their longstanding friendship gradually unravels and finally come to a fatal conclusion . holly martins ( joseph cotton ) be an american author who travel to vienna to take up the offer of a job work with his old friend harry lime ( orson welles ) . soon after his arrival he learn that lime have be kill in an accident and after attend his funeral and intend to return home as soon a possible . he change his mind and however and when he be invite to speak to the member of a local book club . after a few people provide martins with information about lime accident and he become intrigue by some apparent contradiction in their story and seek out lime girlfriend anna ( alida valli ) . a british military policeman and major calloway ( trevor howard ) encourage martin to leave vienna and provide him with convince evidence of the odious nature of the racket in which lime be involve . shortly after this and martins discovers that lime be actually still alive and meet with him at a local amusement park . lime invite martin to join his racket but martins refuse and later go on to assist calloway in capture his old friend . a a result of this act of betrayal and anna put a permanent end to their friendship . the third man be an extremely stylish movie in which the sombre and claustrophobic atmosphere of it location be evoke perfectly by use of top class cinematography and a theme tune which fit it purpose far more effectively than any orchestral score could possibly have do . add to this the great i never know the old vienna narration and harry lime famous cuckoo clock speech and the drama of martin tale of optimism and disillusion and betrayal and loss and you end up with a real classic which continue to have an enduring appeal .