Anti-Climacus

NOTE TO: Stylus' Dave Micevic, on his entry of The Third Man at #4 on the Top Ten Chase Scenes, concluding thus:

"The scene isn't about whether Lime lives or dies, however, but serves as a means to prolong his struggle as a way of further damning the betrayal of Martins. By the end, we understand exactly why, in the closing scene of the film, Anna determinedly walks past a penitent Holly without so much as a casual glance."

Harry Lime is the bad guy. Dude sold stolen, watered-down penecillin. The point is that Martins finally realizes he has to do the right thing, and not just defend his friend and the girl he wants to get with; it's not a betrayal unless you have a really odd sense of when loyalty is called for.