On The Third Man

When I think of the film genre term, film noir, two key technical elements run through my head as to what this genre is: haunting moody soundtrack and a heavy use of chiaroscuro lighting. Oddly enough, The Third Man doesn't necessarily utilize either of these techniques and in fact tends to establish a mood through the opposite of haunting or chiaroscuro creating a truly interesting juxtaposition.

When I think of a score in a film noir, I usually think a melancholic jazz piece: a haunting exchange between saxophones and trumpets in the distance evoking an atmosphere that is both dark and sensuous. The score in The Third Man however, is nothing but. The score incorporates only one instrument: the zither. The use of this string instrument results in a score that sounds almost comical at times which is odd when synchronized with segments that establish a far more dramatic tone.

Another unconventional element that was displayed in this noir is that the lighting is far brighter compared to other films within the genre. Film noir movies are always known to take advantage of elaborate lighting and shadow work and while The Third Man does utilize some use of shadows many scenes in the film are displayed as fairly bright even when it is nighttime. Ultimately, this combination of light atmospheres in the lighting and score mixed with the dark story create a post-modern juxtaposition that meshes polar opposites to create an unusual atmosphere for the audience.