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 The scheme ended after one year, one film and a £1million loss to MGM. The only film to come out of the deal was "Perfect Strangers" (1945) directed by Korda and with Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr, which was popular. Via London Films, Korda bought a controlling interest in British Lion Films. He produced "A Man About the House" (1947). In 1948, Korda received an advance payment of £375,000, the largest single payment received by a British film company, for three movies, "An Ideal Husband" (1947) (which Korda directed), "Anna Karenina" (1948) and "Mine Own Executioner" (1948). The company released