Anton Karas

Anton Karas (1906–1985) was an Austrian composer and zither player, best known for his iconic soundtrack to the British film "The Third Man" (1949), directed by Carol Reed and starring Orson Welles. Born in Vienna, Karas spent many years performing traditional Viennese music in local wine taverns before being discovered by Reed in 1948. His composition "The Third Man Theme," also known as "The Harry Lime Theme," became an international hit, reaching number one on the American charts in 1950. Its distinctive zither sound became one of the most recognizable themes in cinema history.