You know what the fellow said – in Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.
Back in 2003, I found that quote used as a sort of epigraph for a pro-war conservative website–for Hollywood conservatives, if I recall correctly.
Yes, they approvingly quoted a fictional character who sold diluted peniccilin.
Ooh, nice clip. I assume from some television appearance in the early 50s? Another alternate theme that wasn’t used in the film, just before the return to the ‘A’ section at the end.
I’ve probably watched The Third Man more than any other film. With all the shadows and darkness, it really tests the limit of print and display quality. A smudgy vid on late night television doesn’t begin to show what’s there. When I tried to share it with A Young Person, they didn’t seem to recognize the whole theme of misplaced trust and fallen idols. They thought it was all just setting up the cat and shoelace ‘surprise.’
Thanks, Ophelia,
I’m old enough to remember the movie and the zither’s 15 minutes of fame.
Remember this? (Of course you do):
Back in 2003, I found that quote used as a sort of epigraph for a pro-war conservative website–for Hollywood conservatives, if I recall correctly.
Yes, they approvingly quoted a fictional character who sold diluted peniccilin.
Harry forgot to mention the secret bank accounts, which are Switzerland’s gift to plutocrats everywhere.
Lady M – wo! Way to miss the point. (Them, not you!)
Oops! *SPOILER!*
Ooh, nice clip. I assume from some television appearance in the early 50s? Another alternate theme that wasn’t used in the film, just before the return to the ‘A’ section at the end.
I’ve probably watched The Third Man more than any other film. With all the shadows and darkness, it really tests the limit of print and display quality. A smudgy vid on late night television doesn’t begin to show what’s there. When I tried to share it with A Young Person, they didn’t seem to recognize the whole theme of misplaced trust and fallen idols. They thought it was all just setting up the cat and shoelace ‘surprise.’
Also the dangers of charisma. Harry Lyme is soooooo compelling. It’s disconcerting that way.