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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Film The Third Man in the Seattle Waterfront Ferris Wheel

Posted by Charles Mudede on Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 11:11 AM

Soon after the ferris wheel on Pier 57 opens, I will recreate that famous scene from one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, The Third Man.

Of course, I will play Orson Welles (Harry Lime).

Harry Lime: Nobody thinks in terms of human beings. Governments don't. Why should we? They talk about the people and the proletariat, I talk about the suckers and the mugs - it's the same thing. They have their five-year plans, so have I.
Martins: You used to believe in God.
Harry Lime: Oh, I still do believe in God, old man. I believe in God and Mercy and all that. But the dead are happier dead. They don't miss much here, poor devils.

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From what I've learned here and there, you'll not easily recreate that scene in our waterfront one, sir. Each car features two facing booths with a table between, so no standing. And the operator will pack in strangers so that six ride in each car, so not a good place to have a private chat. And the automated voice of Pat Cashman will be speaking at you, so that might interfere with the snappy effect of your dialogue.

But you can certainly wear a hat and a cloak if you like.

Posted by gloomy gus on June 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM

You'll have to recreate it sitting down as the gondolas aren't as spacy as the ones in The Third Man.

Posted by stinkbug on June 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM

damn you, gloomy gus

Posted by stinkbug on June 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM

@3, I am damned, it is known

Posted by gloomy gus on June 13, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Now if you find some aqueducts to disappear into that would be even cooler.

Posted by bhowie on June 13, 2012 at 11:41 AM

The multiplication strategy for meeting post quotas: tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em; tell 'em; then tell 'em what you told 'em.

Posted by rob!

on June 13, 2012 at 11:50 AM

@1,

You can't pay extra for a private ride? That's very disappointing.

Posted by keshmeshi on June 13, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Why hadn't I realized that 21st century Seattle is just like war-flattened Vienna?

Oh, because it isn't.

Posted by Olo on June 13, 2012 at 12:29 PM

Great, now I have zither music going in my head.

Posted by Teslick on June 13, 2012 at 12:30 PM

@1, it is my hope that the owners decide to have that option, as well as one to not have to listen to the recorded voice. Of course, in thinking it through there must also be quiet times when few enough are in line to ride that the operators might offer privacy as a matter of course.

Posted by gloomy gus on June 13, 2012 at 12:30 PM

And by "@1" I of course meant you, keshmeshi @7.

Posted by gloomy gus on June 13, 2012 at 12:32 PM

Good Afternoon Charles,
"The Third Man" by Carol Reed (1947?) is one of my favorite films ever! Trevor Howard & Joseph Cotten are excellent as well in it. And, the zither! That instrument alone could win an award as a character. I love the mini-soliloquy regarding Italy & Switzerland too. This movie rocks. Can I play Holly Martins (Cotten)?

Posted by lark on June 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM

lark, brendan kiley has that role. sorry.

Posted by Charles Mudede on June 13, 2012 at 2:04 PM

Charles, please reconsider. You are a terrible actor.

Posted by bangguy on June 13, 2012 at 2:19 PM

@13 Charles,
Sigh.

BTW, as far as I know, it is the favorite film of the British Film Institute.

Posted by lark on June 13, 2012 at 2:49 PM

sounds thrilling

Posted by somedude on June 13, 2012 at 3:03 PM

@15,

Would you like to play Calloway/Callahan?

Posted by keshmeshi on June 13, 2012 at 3:07 PM

@17
Calloway, that's Trevor Howard's character. Are you guys putting on a skit of some sort? Yeah, I'm interested.

Posted by lark on June 13, 2012 at 3:19 PM

One of my favorite scenes in all of cinema. Joseph Cotton has been doing his thing more or less competently for the duration of the movie and then Orson Welles shows up and acts circles around him.

"Five hundred years of democracy and what did they produce? The cuckoo-clock."

Posted by Transient Gadfly on June 13, 2012 at 3:25 PM