To celebrate the occasion, Studiocanal has collaborated with writer John Walsh and publisher Titan Books to create the official story of the film, a new book illustrated with many previously unpublished images from the archives, available to pre-order now via Amazon.

The new book comprehensively covers the making of the movie and the battle for ownership of the film between US producer David O. Selznick and British producer Alexander Korda, as well as exploring the lasting influence the movie has had on modern filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese.

Along with previously-unpublished images from the archives, author and filmmaker John Walsh has also included new interviews on the identity of the real-life Third Man and its connections to James Bond.

As part of the anniversary commemorations, Studiocanal will be releasing a new 4k UHD Blu-ray of the film later this year, and returning the film to the big screen in cinemas across the country (check your local cinema listings for screenings).

Considered by some to be the greatest film of all time, the atmospheric zither music from “The Third Man” is instantly evocative of shadowy criminality at the birth of the Cold War.

The Grand Gala World Premiere was held at the Ritz Cinema in Hastings, East Sussex, on the 1st of September 1949 before the London opening on the 2nd at the Plaza Cinema, and then going on general release nationwide from the 4th.

Starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard & Valli, the distributors British Lion were experimenting at the time with the idea of premiering films outside of London, and Hastings was the first location chosen.

In addition to his new book on “The Third Man“, John Walsh is a double BAFTA and double Grierson-nominated filmmaker, who has published many books including “Harryhausen: The Lost Movies”, “Flash Gordon”, “Escape From New York”, “Dr. Who & The Daleks“, “Conan The Barbarian”, and “The Wicker Man“.