One of cinema’s classic works, Carol Reed’s Joseph Cotten/Orson Welles-starring The Third Man is rumored to be remade with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire in the lead roles.
CHUD broke the rumor news about the potential remake with a script being written by Eastern Promises scribe, Stephen Knight. At the moment the story fits perfectly into the rumor mold, but it appears things are far enough along where if everything holds together an official announcement could come shortly. One of the major questions this rumor brings is who would play which role. I’m of the thought Maguire would play the Cotten role of Holly Martins, searching for his friend, Harry Lime. Although the Cotten role is more of the lead, I think DiCaprio would be better suited for Orson Welles’ Harry Lime, as it’s the showier part, with a bigger entrance.
To remake any movie, let alone a classic, will have it’s detriments. I don’t believe the film merits a remake at all, but I can say DiCaprio has to be one of the most intriguing actors out there right now and I’m pretty willing to follow him wherever he goes. It might sound preposterous, but I’d love to see what a remake of this classic film would look like in its current rumor state. If things don’t go along these lines, I’d be less inclined to support it. What about you?
Also, be sure to check out the beautiful Criterion Blu-ray of The Third Man, here.
Ahhh! One of my all-time favorites (I've worn out my 2-disc Criterion case) that does not need to be remade. It's movie perfection: the zither score, the cuckoo clock/ferris wheel scene, the crazy lighting of postwar Vienna, the tilted camera angles, the painfully long final frame, etc.
You just can't touch it — it was a been there, done that movie miracle where everything just came together.
And there's also no question that it would be Maquire for Cotten/DiCaprio for Lime, but it's so anti-religious in a film sense to even question it. I'm covering my ears…
Dang it, I'm already falling into the trap, but I just had a vision of Marion Cotillard playing the Alida Valli role. If — and once again, I hope not — the film has to be remade, she fits the part to a "T".
The zither score is definitely tight. I need to watch the film again, as I wasn't able to give it a proper spin the first time around. I love Cotten and I love Welles, so there's no reason this film wouldn't be completely up my alley.