Pickup on South Street (1953)
Genre: Filmnoir / Thriller
Duration: 80 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Samuel Fuller
Stars: Richard Widmark, Jean Peters and Thelma Ritter
IMDb score:
7,6 (18.242)
Releasedate: 27 May 1953
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Pickup on South Street plot
"How the law took a chance on a B-girl … and won!"
Pickpocket Skip McCoy steals beautiful brunette Candy's wallet on a crowded New York subway. Candy's wallet also contained a microfilm, which she had to deliver to the patron of the sneaky communist spy and also her ex-boyfriend Joey. Candy is shadowed by FBI Inspector Zara, who witnesses Skip's theft. She does not realize that she is being used by the communist spies and that she is also being shadowed by counter-espionage. Joey and Candy, as well as the FBI and New York Police Department, now hunt the unsuspecting Skip to get the microfilm at all costs.
Actors and actresses
Skip McCoy
Candy
Moe Williams
Captain Dan Tiger
Joey
Zara
Headquarters Communist in Chair
Fight Spectator
Lum
Nurse
Reviews & comments
Movsin
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- 8472 messages
- 8511 votes
It contains all the ingredients of a film noir and one can also enjoy the many perfectly executed close-ups of clever Richard Widmark, seductive Jean Peters and even the law representative Murvyn Vye. However, it was Thelma Ritter who walked away with an Oscar nomination, thanks to a few expressive scenes.
Behind the story - occasionally flirting with logic - is the American fear of communism, then dominating American society and politics.
Anyway, without a doubt a good film in its genre.
Translated from Dutch · View original
scorsese
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- 13669 messages
- 11436 votes
Outstanding movie in which a pickpocket gets into the hands of a movie that could endanger state security. A good story that is also well put together and that gets more and more exciting towards the end. Pretty violent for the time. Richard Widmark does a good job, but as usual Thelma Ritter steals the scenes (especially during her death scene she knows how to move). A small 4.0 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Kiekerjan
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- 119 messages
- 106 votes
Crime noir in which three parties hunt for a MacGuffin in the form of a mysterious microfilm. The film has a clear political undertone and constantly puts the 'Reds' in a bad light. As the story progresses, the aggression of the 'commies' increases to such an extent that the viewer is almost forced to side with Skip. However, Joey was by far the most interesting character, but he is ultimately reduced to a meager and meaningless plot device. It is a great pity that it was decided not to explore it further, because his scenes stood head and shoulders above it. The scene with the 'dumbwaiter' was the highlight and a nice use of suspense and brutality. The woman's motives were, as usual, inscrutable. I can't understand her sudden loyalty to Skip and she too just feels like a medium to amplify the political message. Direction was good, dialogues were sharp and filled with imagery, some supporting roles such as Moe were very strong and the short running time was also a good choice. The ending, on the other hand, was very silly. Skip couldn't kill Joey since the Hays Code forbade it. This lands Joey in jail and Skip lives happily ever after.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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