I am someone who is relatively ignorant about the finer points of filmmaking. While I recognize costume and make-up work immediately, when film fans start talking about camera work, lighting and long takes, I feel incredibly stupid. It's not that I don't recognize good work when I see it, but I rarely spot a certain person's signature, or see the strings that point to how it was done. I envy those who do, and I certainly hope I can join the ranks of the very very knowledgable. But for now, I'll just have to say "Well, that certainly was done well" and look the responsible parties up on IMDB.

That's an odd way of introducing this clip, though if you know your The Third Man in and out, I'm sure you'll know the scene I picked and why. It's one of those scenes that immediately thrilled me with its trickery of light and shadows, and it's so simple and classic that I'm certain I shouldn't be impressed. But even without the effects, it's still a pretty wonderful, cat-driven character introduction, startling not just because of the lighting, but because Harry Lime is supposed to be six feet under. You're not sure if he's a ghost or if he's real, but you can't help smiling at Orson Welles' smirk, even as you want to wipe it off his face.