Anton Karas asked a stunned Karas if he would compose the music for the film. Karas protested, saying he had never actually written music. As Karas later told the story, the director insisted and invited Karas to England. The Austrian became homesick and asked to be allowed to return. Reed told him he could—as soon as he had written the music. Under this pressure Karas wrote his Harry Lime theme. The film—with the music a contributing factor—was a gigantic success, and Karas' life was changed drastically. As a result, he toured all over the world and performed for many celebrities, among them
Alexander Korda service in the Austrian Army because he was short-sighted. Korda made a film with Gyula Zilahy, "The Duped Journalist" (1914). He also directed "Tutyu and Totyo" (1915), "The Officer's Swordknot" (1915) and "Lyon Lea" (1915). Korda established a film company named Corvin Film, building it into one of the largest in Hungary. His first film for them was "White Nights" (1916), a big success. He followed it with "The Grandmother" (1916), "Tales of the Typewriter" (1916), "The Man with Two Hearts" (1916), "The One Million Pound Note" (1916), "Cyclamen" (1916), "Struggling Hearts" (1916), "The Laughing Saskia" (1916), "Miska the Magnate"