**Sir Carol Reed (1906-1976)** was an acclaimed British film director and producer, known for his ability to create intense atmospheres and psychological suspense. His career, which began in the 1930s, reached its peak in the post-war period with a series of film noirs.

His undisputed masterpiece is **The Third Man** (1949), a film noir set in post-war Vienna, renowned for its innovative Dutch angles, dark atmospheres, and Orson Welles' iconic performance. Reed excelled at portraying morally ambiguous worlds and complex characters.

Other significant films include **Odd Man Out** (1947), a tense drama about a wounded rebel, and **The Fallen Idol** (1948), told through the eyes of a child. In 1968, he demonstrated his versatility by directing the musical **Oliver!**, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director. His signature style is characterized by a deep focus on character psychology and the expressive use of setting.