How does the third man establish and use elements of film noir in the sewer scene?

How does the third man establish and use elements of film noir in the sewer scene?

By Amber Mackenzie

“The third man” effectively uses and establishes many elements of film noir, especially within the sewer scene. Elements include lighting, composition and mise en scene. All of these are used to emphasise the themes within the film including the disorientation and dark atmosphere in a literal and metaphorical sense.

This particular shot uses deep shadows. These convey the fear displayed in the scene as the darkness of the shadow dominates. In addition, the element mystery is also emphasised through the use of shadows. The darkness makes the audience question what lies within it as well as altering the atmosphere. The geometric lines divide the scene creating separation between the characters. This dissociates them from each other creating a sense of opposition which foreshadows the violence that proceeds to take place within the sewer scene. These geometric lines, as well as adding division to the scene, creates a sense of disorientation. This replicates what would have been experienced by the characters in the chase scene. This allows the audience to feel as if they are also within the scene.

This particular shot uses light to create a representation of character. The rest of the shot is dark, emphasising and foreshadowing the dark natured events that take place within the tunnel. Then the light draws attention to the dark figure in the middle coming closer towards the camera. This allows the audience to know this is not a character that can be trusted and most certainly has a dark side. Furthermore, the leading lines create a vanishing point which goes off screen adding to the audience’s confusion as to where it eventually leads. Adding this element of curiosity through shadows and geometrical lines engages the audience allowing tension to build. This makes other themes of film noir more effective such as big events being dramaticised.

Another shot emphasising the film noir elements of “the third man” sewer scene is this one. The mise en scene of the balcony is leading a line for the audience to follow the characters. Doing this adds drama to the scene as the intensity builds up. In addition, the vertices emphasise the disorientation illusion which has always been a running trend in film noir due to the depression causing confusion of the time inspiring this.  In the bottom left corner, this dominating shadow emphasises power and fear in addition to further emphasising the metaphorical darkness, as such, within the characters themselves. The shadow allows things to be hidden, making reference to the hidden secrets characters may contain or “darker sides”

In summary, the sewer scene in “the third man” uses elements of film noir through composition of shots with geometric lines in addition to large, ghastly shadows. The mise en scene of the shots further emphasises this through this dark atmosphere.