Citizens, Friends and Shattered Illusions in Carol Reed's 'The Third Man' (Film As Text)

This is the first instalment in a series of studies of aspects of 'The Third Man' (Carol Reed, 1949) by Mark Nicholls. This article deals with characters as themes within the film, drawing on the complex and psychologically rounded characters in the narrative. Strangers in a strange land, illusion, the law and mitigation, good citizenship and friendship are all explored.