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Timeline

The Third Man (1949) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1949 · 104 min · English
JustWatch #918 69
Directed by
Carol Reed
Starring
Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, Alida Valli, Bernard Lee, Erich Ponto

In postwar Vienna, pulp fiction writer Holly Martins travels to meet his childhood friend, only to discover he is dead. A mysterious "third man" was reportedly present at the scene, prompting Martins to investigate. His inquiries lead him into a dangerous conspiracy involving British officer Maj. Calloway and a complex web of deceit and tragic circumstances. The story unfolds against the atmospheric backdrop of Vienna, a city struggling to rebuild after the war.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Third Man
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Third Man (1949)

Where can you watch The Third Man? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Artiflix, Cineverse and IndieFlix: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

The Third Man Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Third Man (1949) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Arrival in Vienna

    Holly Martins arrives in post-World War II Vienna, looking forward to meeting his friend Harry Lime. However, he is surprised to find that Harry is not waiting for him at the station, prompting concern about his whereabouts.

    Where
    Vienna, Austria
  2. Discovery of Harry's Death

    Holly visits Harry's flat only to learn from the porter that Harry has died after being hit by a truck. This shocking news sends Holly into a state of grief and confusion, leading him to attend Harry's funeral.

    Where
    Harry's apartment, Vienna
  3. The Funeral Service

    At Harry's funeral, Holly meets Major Calloway, who informs him that Harry was not just a friend but also a murderer involved in racketeering. This revelation infuriates Holly, igniting a determination to uncover the truth about Harry's death.

    Where
    Cemetery, Vienna
  4. Meeting Baron Kurtz

    Holly meets Baron Kurtz, who claims to be a friend of Harry's. During their discussion, Kurtz recounts the events surrounding Harry's death, raising more questions in Holly's mind about the circumstances of his friend's demise.

    Where
    Café, Vienna
  5. Anna Schmidt's Connection

    Holly learns about Anna Schmidt, an actress and Harry's companion, while investigating Harry's past. Meeting Anna allows Holly to glean more insight into Harry's character and further complicates his feelings toward the case.

    Where
    Theater, Vienna
  6. Questioning the Porter

    Holly and Anna talk to the porter again, where he reveals critical information that contradicts Kurtz’s version of events. This discovery deepens Holly's suspicion that Harry's death was not an accident, challenging what he had been led to believe.

    Where
    Harry's apartment, Vienna
  7. Police Inquisition

    The police examine Anna's apartment, leading to revelations about her forged passport. Holly learns Anna's life is in danger, reinforcing his commitment to uncovering the truth behind Harry's death.

    Where
    Anna's apartment, Vienna
  8. Holly Meets Harry

    Holly unexpectedly encounters Harry, who reveals he is alive and has been hiding. The reunion is fraught with tension as Harry seems unrepentant about his past actions, complicating Holly's feelings toward his old friend.

    Where
    Ferris wheel, Vienna
  9. Calloway's Evidence

    Calloway presents damning evidence against Harry, proving his involvement in a penicillin racket that harmed many, including children. This information devastates Holly, forcing him to confront the reality of Harry's life and choices.

    Where
    International police station
  10. Betrayal and Choices

    Having struck a deal with Calloway to help Anna escape, Holly feels trapped between loyalty to Harry and moral obligation. When Anna rejects him for his betrayal, Holly is left disheartened, struggling with his choices.

    Where
    Train station, Vienna
  11. Confrontation in the Sewers

    In a tense chase through the sewers, Holly tracks down Harry after the police corner him. An emotional confrontation unfolds, resulting in tragic consequences for both men as they grapple with friendship, betrayal, and justice.

    Where
    Sewers of Vienna
  12. Final Encounter

    Holly faces Harry one last time, deciding whether to take the shot that could end Harry's life. The desperation in Harry's eyes asks for mercy, leaving Holly with a heavy moral choice that ultimately defines their friendship.

    Where
    Sewers of Vienna
  13. Harry's Second Funeral

    After Harry's death, Holly attends his second funeral alongside Anna and Calloway. The somber event deepens Holly's sorrow and transforms his understanding of friendship and loss in a post-war world.

    Where
    Cemetery, Vienna
  14. Parting Ways

    Holly attempts to reconnect with Anna as she walks by after Harry's funeral. However, she ignores him, leaving Holly disheartened, reflecting on the emotional toll of love and betrayal against the backdrop of a war-torn city.

    Where
    Cemetery trail, Vienna

Last updated: January 19, 2025 at 18:49

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Timeline questions answered

The Third Man Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Third Man (1949): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Harry Lime fake his death?

Harry Lime fakes his death to escape prosecution for his criminal activities in Vienna. He stages being hit by a truck outside his apartment building while his associates remove a coffin, creating the illusion that he has died. This allows him to hide from both the police and the people he has betrayed while continuing his operations undetected.

  • harry lime fake death
  • truck accident
  • staged death
  • escape
Q2

What is the penicillin racket Harry Lime runs?

Harry Lime profits by selling diluted or expired medical supplies, particularly penicillin, to hospitals and black market dealers. The film reveals he sold watered-down penicillin to the occupying forces, knowing it was being used on sick children. This explains why Major Calloway considers Lime not just a criminal but a murderer, he caused serious harm to innocent patients.

  • penicillin racket
  • diluted medicine
  • black market
  • medical supplies
Q3

Who is the third man at Harry Lime's death scene?

The third man is Harry Lime himself. When the truck strikes what appears to be Harry's body, there are actually three men present: the truck driver, Baron Kurtz, and Harry Lime, who staged the accident. The mysterious third man refers to Harry's own involvement in orchestrating his apparent death.

  • third man
  • barron kurtz
  • witness
  • staged accident
Q4

Why does Major Calloway want Harry Lime arrested?

Major Calloway, the British police officer in Vienna, wants Harry Lime arrested because he has solid evidence that Lime runs a criminal racket selling diluted penicillin. Calloway tells Holly that Harry is not just a racketeer but a murderer, since the fake medicine has harmed many people including children. Calloway sees it as his duty to bring Lime to justice.

  • major calloway
  • british police
  • arrest
  • crime
  • penicillin
Q5

Why does Anna Schmidt ignore Holly at the end?

Anna ignores Holly because he betrayed Harry by leading the police to him in the sewers. Although Holly did this to save Anna from deportation after her forged passport was discovered, Anna cannot forgive him for turning against his own friend. Her silent walk past Holly at the cemetery signifies that his cooperation with Calloway destroyed their relationship despite his good intentions.

  • anna schmidt
  • betrayal
  • holly
  • ignore
  • deportation
  • passport
Q6

How does Holly find Harry in the sewers?

Holly finds Harry in the sewers because he makes a deal with Calloway: he will lead the police to Harry in exchange for helping Anna escape deportation. Using his friendship as bait, Holly lures Harry out of hiding. The police corner Harry in the underground network beneath Vienna, and Holly pursues him through the labyrinthine tunnels.

  • sewers
  • vienna underground
  • police chase
  • capture
Q7

Why does Harry hide from Holly after his fake death?

Harry hides from Holly because he knows Holly would be devastated to learn the truth about his criminal activities. Harry genuinely values their friendship from before the war and hopes to maintain Holly's idealized image of him. However, when they finally meet on the Ferris wheel, Harry shows no remorse for his actions, revealing his moral decay.

  • ferris wheel
  • hiding
  • old friend
  • childhood friend
Q8

What deal does Holly make with Major Calloway?

Holly makes a deal with Calloway to help Anna Schmidt avoid deportation. After the police discover Anna's forged passport and learn she was Harry's lover, she faces expulsion from Vienna. Holly agrees to help trap Harry in exchange for Calloway's promise to arrange safe passage for Anna to escape the city.

  • deal
  • anna deportation
  • passport
  • trap harry
Q9

Why does Harry try to escape through the sewers?

Harry attempts to escape through Vienna's sewers because they provide a hidden network beneath the city that allows him to move between sectors undetected. When the police close in on his location, the sewers become his only escape route. The underground passages connect different parts of occupied Vienna, offering a tactical advantage to someone familiar with the city.

  • sewers
  • escape
  • vienna underground
  • police chase
  • sectors
Q10

Why does Holly have to decide whether to shoot Harry?

Holly faces the agonizing decision when he corners Harry in the sewers and has a clear shot. Harry begs for mercy, asking Holly to consider their old friendship. Holly ultimately fires, wounding Harry, who then falls into the water below. The shot represents Holly choosing justice over personal loyalty, but the act leaves him traumatized and grieving.

  • shoot
  • decision
  • mercy
  • sewers
  • friendship
  • betrayal
Q11

Who kills Harry Lime?

Holly Martins is technically the one who shoots Harry in the sewers, but Harry dies from his wounds after falling into the water below. Some interpret this as an execution, others as accidental death during escape. Either way, Holly is directly responsible for Harry's fate, having honored his deal with Calloway and pursued his former friend to the end.

  • death
  • shoot
  • sewers
  • holly responsible
  • execution

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Third Man, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Third Man tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about post-war corruption like The Third Man

Gripping stories set in the fractured, lawless aftermath of major conflicts. If you liked the atmospheric tension and moral decay of The Third Man, explore more movies like it. These films capture the cynical, gritty vibe of societies rebuilding after war, often featuring crime, investigation, and a palpable sense of disillusionment.

  • gritty
  • atmospheric
  • morally ambiguous
  • haunting
  • paranoid
  • melancholic
  • Tone: dark, cynical, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often follow an outsider or investigator entering a destabilized environment. Their quest for truth or order forces a confrontation with a system where crime and survival are intertwined, leading to shattering revelations about human nature and the cost of conflict.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared setting in war-torn locales and their central theme of moral collapse. They exhibit a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a consistent focus on how extreme circumstances test and often break personal ethics.

Movies about shattered illusions like The Third Man

A protagonist's investigation shatters their idealistic view of a close friend. Discover films with a narrative pattern similar to The Third Man, where a character's search for the truth leads to a devastating personal revelation. If you liked the emotional weight and bittersweet ending of uncovering a friend's dark secrets, you'll find more movies like it here.

  • suspenseful
  • morally ambiguous
  • melancholic
  • haunting
  • tragic
  • investigative
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate uncovering
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The defining pattern is an emotional arc, not just a plot. A protagonist, driven by loyalty or love, investigates a mystery surrounding a friend or loved one. Each clue steadily dismantles their idealized image, culminating in a climax that is both a resolution of the external mystery and a profound personal loss.

Why they belong together: These films share a powerful narrative engine: the collision of a personal quest with the uncovering of a painful truth. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a bittersweet ending feel where knowledge is a pyrrhic victory.

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Movies Like The Third Man

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Every angle

The Third Man (1949) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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