The Third Man - Characters & Cast

Initially, Holly is motivated by a fierce loyalty to his childhood friend, Harry Lime, and a desire to clear his name. After witnessing the devastating consequences of Harry's crimes—specifically the sick children in the hospital—his motivation shifts to a sense of moral duty to stop him.

Holly begins as a naive and somewhat bumbling writer of cheap Westerns, possessing a black-and-white view of morality and an unwavering loyalty to his friend. As he is drawn deeper into Vienna's corrupt underworld, his idealism is shattered by the monstrous truth about Harry. He undergoes a significant transformation, forced to abandon his simplistic worldview and make a difficult moral choice, ultimately choosing to betray his friend and kill him. He ends the film a disillusioned and solitary figure.

Harry's motivations are purely self-interest, profit, and survival. He operates on a sociopathic level of detachment, viewing other people as insignificant "dots" whose lives are expendable for his own gain. As he tells Holly, he doesn't believe in the morality of governments or individuals, only in his own five-year plans.

Harry Lime has no developmental arc within the film; he is an unchanging force of charming amorality. He is revealed to have faked his own death to continue his black-market racketeering, specifically selling diluted penicillin which has caused the deaths of many, including children. Despite his monstrous actions, he remains witty, charismatic, and convinced of his own worldview. His character is fully formed and static, serving as the catalyst for Holly's transformation. He ends as he lived: a self-serving criminal who is ultimately cornered and killed.

Anna's primary motivation is her deep and abiding love for Harry Lime. This love is the anchor of her existence in the chaotic world of post-war Vienna. She is also motivated by self-preservation, as she is a Czechoslovakian refugee with forged papers, making her vulnerable to deportation by the occupying forces.

Anna's arc is one of tragic, unwavering loyalty. She remains devoted to Harry Lime, even after learning the full extent of his crimes. She refuses to betray him and cannot transfer her affections to the more morally upright Holly. Her character defies the typical femme fatale archetype; she is not manipulative but rather steadfast in her love, however misplaced. The film ends with her pointedly ignoring Holly, demonstrating that her loyalty to Harry transcends even his death, leaving her isolated in her grief.

Calloway is motivated by his duty as a police officer and a desire to bring a dangerous criminal, Harry Lime, to justice. He is driven by a professional, unemotional sense of right and wrong, and he wants to stop the suffering caused by Lime's penicillin racket.

Major Calloway is a cynical but professional British military police officer. He acts as a foil and a reluctant mentor to the naive Holly Martins. Initially, he is dismissive of Holly, seeing him as a nuisance. However, as Holly becomes more entangled in the case, Calloway develops a grudging respect for him. He represents the pragmatic, weary, but ultimately principled authority trying to impose order on a chaotic world. His character remains largely consistent, serving as the voice of harsh reality that guides Holly toward his difficult decision.