Anton Karas Anton Karas Anton Karas (7 July 1906 – 10 January 1985) was a Viennese zither player and composer, best known for his internationally famous 1948 soundtrack to Carol Reed's "The Third Man", which came about as a result of a chance meeting. Born in Vienna, one of five children of a factory worker, Anton Karas was already keen on music as a child. He wanted to become a band leader, which because of the family's financial situation was impossible. However, he was allowed to learn to play an instrument, as were his two brothers and two sisters. He later reported
Alexander Korda may make British pictures here but the pictures made would be just as American as those made in Hollywood. We are now on the verge of forming a British school of film making in this country." Korda produced "Fire Over England" (1937) with Olivier and Vivien Leigh. He also attempted a version of "I, Claudius" with Laughton and Merle Oberon which was abandoned. Korda made "Dark Journey" (1937) with Conrad Veidt and Leigh, and had a big hit with "Elephant Boy" (1937) directed by his brother from a Rudyard Kipling story; it made a star of Sabu. Korda also made