The Third Man Magazine Analysis

 

 

This is not a front cover but gives me a good idea of what a 1949 magazine was like for drama films such as The Third Man. Contrasting to the article for the film Atonement this does not use straight lines and a simple layout. The jagged edges and range of frames from the film footage provide a sense of unease and turmoil which is in correlation to the feeling of the film itself. 

The use of shadows and black and white text also give the article a very eerie and suspicious impression marketing the film as an epic suspense drama. They had no colour in the late 40s so the black and white is an iconic dated feature of film.

Equally to Atonement, this article on The Third Man advertises the film by advocating a star member of cast. The large mid-shot of Orson Welles is easily recognisable and is a draw for a film such as this one.      

 

This large headshot of Ava Gardener is the only aspect of this 1949 film magazine apart from the name in a mast head. Magazines for any genre of film have moved on massively from this as the magazines were more about the actors rather than their role in the film. This is a classic portrait shot from this time and presents a very elegant image of film as a particularly glamorous industry. However other conventions still remain such as the models direct eye contact with the camera and a bright masthead in the top left third to stand out if the magazine is stacked on a kiosk.