The Third Man

The Third Man is coming back to the Historic Duncan Auditorium at the Tampa Theatre on Wednesday, October 28. It's a screening of the 1949 film, and it doesn't stop when the credits roll—there's a post-film talk program sponsored by Hungry Bull Productions and the Restaino Family Foundation. The whole thing is part of the theatre's BIG PICTURE: A Century of Stories series, so if you've been following that, this is the next one on the list.

For those who haven't seen it, The Third Man is a drama, mystery, and thriller directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene, starring Joseph Cotton and Alida Valli. It's famous for a few specific things: it was shot entirely on location in Vienna, it won an Academy Award for Robert Krasker's cinematography, and it features Anton Karas' zither theme, which became one of the biggest hits of 1950. The film first opened at the Tampa Theatre back in May 1950, so this is a bit of a homecoming. There's also a bit of behind-the-scenes friction to the story—Reed reportedly fought his American producer, David O. Selznick, over every detail of the movie.

Practicals: the screening starts at 7 PM, and doors open at 6:30 PM. General admission is $13 for the evening, and Tampa Theatre members get it for $10. If you buy online, there's a $2 service fee on top. Seating is open, so you can pick your own spot.