| "The Third Man Theme" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Anton Karas | |
| Released | 1949 |
| Length | 2:06 |
| Label | Decca (UK) London (U.S.) |
| Songwriter(s) | Anton Karas |
"The Third Man Theme" (also written "3rd Man Theme" and known as "The Harry Lime Theme") is an instrumental written and performed by Anton Karas for the soundtrack to the 1949 film The Third Man. Upon release the theme proved popular, spending eleven weeks at number one on Billboard's United States Best Sellers in Stores chart. Multiple versions have been performed and recorded, selling tens of millions of copies, and its success influenced the release strategy of later film singles.