If you’ll forgive us a shallow observation about a cinematic giant, what was it with Carol Reed and the word “Man”? As well as The Third Man and Our Man in Havana, you had The Running Man, ace IRA magic-realist drama Odd Man Out with James ‘Mandingo’ Mason, and then this Berlin-set period piece, with Mason again as a troubled Wall-hopping businessman, who gives it all up for Claire ‘Illustrated Man’ Bloom. Some Third Man-ish photography, a very Odd Man Out-like ending, and Geoffrey ‘Freewheelers’ Toone are in there as well.
