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The Third Man (1949)
The Third Man (1949) poster
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4.2

The Third Man (1949)

Thriller, Mystery • 1h 44m

Overview

In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Major Calloway, and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna.

Director: Carol Reed

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray/Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray (shared encode); slight improvement over the 2015 StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio Release

StudioCanal/LG UHDs port the 1999 Criterion DVD, considered the best source

Additional Info

StudioCanal has a remastered Blu-ray, Lionsgate only a 4K Blu-ray

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Solid
Studio Canal:

review

TSPDT

2026: #54
2025: #54
2024: #55
2023: #54
2022: #54

External Links

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 6, Audio: 6, Extras: 7

Length

104 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

The 3rd Man

Last Updated

a month ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray/Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray (shared encode); slight improvement over the 2015 StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio Release

StudioCanal/LG UHDs port the 1999 Criterion DVD, considered the best source

Additional Info

StudioCanal has a remastered Blu-ray, Lionsgate only a 4K Blu-ray

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Solid
Studio Canal:

review

Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #54
2025: #54
2024: #55
2023: #54
2022: #54
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 6, Audio: 6, Extras: 7

Length
104 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
The 3rd Man
Last Updated
a month ago
Contributors

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Blue Velvet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

 Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray - subtle difference in encoding to the Criterion in encoding, trading blows in different shots, with Plaion taking a slight edge with less highlight blocking

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc/2000 Region 1 MGM DVD

Criterion's 2.0 sounds muffled due to noise reduction and EQ.
Plaion's 2.0 lacks bass and has a very bright EQ, more resembling the 5.1 remix. Plaion’s 2.0 doesn't have any filtering unlike the Criterion, see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23831289&postcount=110

Blue Velvet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

 Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray - subtle difference in encoding to the Criterion in encoding, trading blows in different shots, with Plaion taking a slight edge with less highlight blocking

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc/2000 Region 1 MGM DVD

Criterion's 2.0 sounds muffled due to noise reduction and EQ.
Plaion's 2.0 lacks bass and has a very bright EQ, more resembling the 5.1 remix. Plaion’s 2.0 doesn't have any filtering unlike the Criterion, see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23831289&postcount=110

Mulholland Drive poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is closer to the original DVDs than the 2015 Criterion release, not sure about whether the StudioCanal 4K is like the Criterion 4K/original DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision, StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has MEL

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is closer to the original DVDs than the 2015 Criterion release, not sure about whether the StudioCanal 4K is like the Criterion 4K/original DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision, StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has MEL

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

Modern Times poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209

Best Video:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2016 Kadokawa Blu-ray

Modern Times poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209

Best Video:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2016 Kadokawa Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

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Curzon UK Blu-ray has squished AR
Bela Tarr Curzon Collection uses the same bad Curzon Blu-ray

Satantango poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arbelos Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray August

Best Video:

Carlotta France Blu-ray slightly better than Arbelos US Blu-ray, both are FiM-encodes with tradeoffs. Carlotta is best in dark scenes.

Curzon UK Blu-ray has squished AR
Bela Tarr Curzon Collection uses the same bad Curzon Blu-ray

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

A Man Escaped poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 2K restoration

Best Audio:

2004 New Yorker DVD

A Man Escaped poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 2K restoration

Best Audio:

2004 New Yorker DVD

The Magnificent Ambersons poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

M poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Universum Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Germany Universum Blu-ray

M poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Universum Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Germany Universum Blu-ray

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The Man Between poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK StudioCanal Blu-ray has minimally better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray see caps

The Man Between poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK StudioCanal Blu-ray has minimally better encoding than Kino Lorber Blu-ray see caps

Oliver! poster
UHD Blu-ray
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Oliver! poster
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Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail poster
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2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

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32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

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2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

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32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

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Japan Fox Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
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Additional Info:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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1080p Blu-ray
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Best Video:

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1080p Blu-ray
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StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Best Video:

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