How does the opening and chase scene from "The Third Man" use filming and composition techniques, mise en scene and cinematography to create meanings, metaphors and effects?

Figure 1

"The Third Man" uses filming and composition techniques to evoke specific meanings and feelings. The use of confounding and titled shots disorientate the viewer, reflecting character's psychological state. In Figure 1 a tilted shot is used as it shows Holly tilting his head, mirroring the camera's tilt. This may be used to highlight Holly's sharp intellect as he is the one to kill and indirectly save future children's lives. Holly mimicking the tilt shot is a very subtle way which points out Holly's intelligence and perceptive nature and therefore informs the audience in a creative way that Holly is the central protagonist of the story and is going to "save the day". Also, the mise en scene fit the German Expressionism conventions. For example, the chairoscuro lighting used casts a strong and bold shadow against the wall which may suggest that Holly is a morally ambiguous character. The use of a strong key light in this shot draws attention to Holly.

Figure 2

In Figure 2 a tilt shot is used again to disorientate the viewer. The disorientation matches the dialogue as the butler confuses heaven and hell (he points up for hell and down for heaven) which reinforces the disorientation. The confusion created by this scene sets up a major theme for the film: disorientation. Also, a strong light has been cast upon the scene as the archway has a jagged and and angular shadow. The sharp geometry of the shadow conjures images of danger and suggests that Harry's house is a house of danger.

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a very angular kiosk. The German expressionism used makes the kiosk seem unusually dangerous due to the sharp angles. Kiosks are not dangerous however this kiosk is presented as threatening which intrigues the audience. We later discover that the kiosk is an instrumental part of the plot. The threatening kiosk may reflect danger in everyday life as the kiosk appears threatening when a kiosk is normally nothing. This may suggest further how dangerous it actually was for citizens at that time. The kiosk is a path down to the sewer which may reflect how citizens at the time were in danger at all times and even a kiosk is dangerous. Also, the strong key light from behind the kiosk casts a strong shadow on the floor which subtly informs the reader of the importance of the kiosk.

Figure 4

 In figure 4 we only see Harry's shadow-not his physical self. This may reflect how Holly has been chasing a Harry's shadow for the majority of the film. The strong dark shadow produced by the key light quite literally shows Harry's inner darkness/evil and the audience begin to suspect Harry is far from good. Also, the tilted shot once again disorientates the audience and the audience begin to feel like Holly. In this scene Holly is intoxicated and dizzy so he too is disorientated. The vanishing point in this shot is off screen and the audience's eyes are naturally drawn towards the bright light instead of the shadow.