Z/Web

Author: Graham Greene

I don’t always like old “classic” films, but this one doesn’t feel dated at all. It’s in lovely black and white, filled with shadows, which makes the performances all the more dramatic. The story is set in Vienna during WWII, when it was controlled by four powers: American, British, French, and Russian. The black market ruled. The main character, an American writer of western novels, arrives because his old pal promised him a job. He gets there only to find his friend was killed by a car a few days earlier. The circumstances are mysterious, so he investigates, and what he uncovers… well, see the film. It’s an interesting and unusual story, with poignant and profound moments, and some excellent thrills. Most dramatic of all is the incredible music: all performed on a zither, which has a unique and haunting sound.

Man. U. dominated as you might expect, but they didn’t score. But after a 0-0 first half, they came out on fire, with Andy Cole scoring forty-four seconds in! Sunderland tried to keep Man. U. at bay and succeeded, even getting a few chances of their own, but couldn’t break down the United defense. Toward the end of the game Cole and a Sunderland player got into a ruckus and were both sent off — rather extreme, but their behavior wasn’t that intelligent either. Final: 1-0 Man. U.