In post-war Vienna, American writer Holly Martins arrives to meet his old friend Harry Lime, only to discover that Lime has mysteriously died under suspicious circumstances. As Martins delves into the murky underworld of the divided city, he uncovers a network of deception that leads to a shocking revelation about Lime’s true nature.

The Third Man, was voted the greatest British film of all time by the BFI and is consistently praised for its acting, soundtrack, and cinematography. The film centres on a number of different fakes from medicine, passports to identities. For this year’s April Fakes Day, we’ll take a fresh look at what the film can teach out about faking.

We’re honoured to have Angela Allen one of the last remaining original crew members in the making of film and will be joined in Q&A with Prof Patricia Kingori and Prof Paul Newton discussing the significance of the fake medicine in the Third Man’s storyline.

All tickets to this screening cost £5. Part of the Oxford University’s April Fakes Day 2025 programme (https://torch.ox.ac.uk/april-fakes-day)

Reviews

‘Few films more effectively capture the crumbling infrastructure and opportunistic lawlessness of postwar Europe. And none better translate the snaking treachery of Graham Greene’s stories and his worlds of cynical expats and casual betrayal.’
★★★★★
Wendy Ide, The Times

‘An iconic film noir that’s still fresh despite being familiar.’
★★★★★
Jamie Russell, BBC