The film tells the story of Holly Martins, a Canadian writer who travels to partitioned post-war Vienna to search for his old friend, Harry Lime. He realizes that he has become involved unwittingly in an evil racketeering network, and is obliged to bring his gangster friend to justice.

This edition consists of the original screenplay, and includes a detailed analysis of the changes made during the shooting of the film - a fascinating study of the relationship between author and director.