The Third Man Museum in Vienna is dedicated to the iconic film "The Third Man" and the city's post-war history. Visitors can explore over 3000 original exhibits, including premiere items, scripts, cameras, and documents illustrating daily life in war-torn Vienna.
The Third Man Museum is a passion project for film buffs and those interested in Vienna's post-war era, offering a deep dive into the making and context of the 1949 British-American production "The Third Man." The museum houses a remarkable collection of over 3000 original exhibits and documents across 15 rooms, spanning items from premieres and rereleases of the film from over 20 countries. Highlights include 420 cover versions of the "Harry Lime Theme," the zither used by Anton Karas, original scripts, cameras used on location, and artifacts that illustrate the daily life, challenges, and atmosphere of post-war Vienna, a city divided and rebuilding.
The museum's "Collection on Postwar Vienna" specifically focuses on the historical backdrop against which "The Third Man" was filmed. It showcases original documents that bring to life the daily realities of the time, marked by bombed-out buildings, scarcity, the black market, and the presence of Allied occupation zones. Through movie quotes and carefully curated displays, the museum offers an unusual and informative approach to understanding this significant period in Viennese history, highlighting Graham Greene's research and Carol Reed's documentary style that made the film a unique testimony of its time.