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20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
How the law took a chance on a B-girl … and won!
In New York City, an insolent pickpocket, Skip McCoy, inadvertently sets off a chain of events when he targets ex-prostitute Candy and steals her wallet. Unaware that she has been making deliveries of highly classified information to the communists, Candy, who has been trailed by FBI agents for months in hopes of nabbing the spy ringleader, is sent by her ex-boyfriend, Joey, to find Skip and retrieve the valuable microfilm he now holds.
CinemaSerf
Jun 21, 2023 · via TMDB
Richard Widmark is quite effective in this quickly paced espionage thriller. He's a petty thief whom we see lifting something from a woman's purse on a busy subway train. He's not the only one watching her, though, and as he makes his exit he narrowly avoids capture the police. Why are others watching this woman? Well it turns out that she is suspected of passing secrets to the communists and that the police reckon the purse purse contains evidence. Of course, "Skip" (Widmark) knows nothing of this but is soon working with the authorities to find "Candy" (Jean Peters), trace her compatriots and thwart the deceit. Thelma Ritter always adds value - if perhaps not versatility - and it features a tightly knit supporting cast as Samuel Fuller keeps the dialogue focussed and the pace deft before quite an exciting ending. It does play a little to cold war politics and paranoia, but it's still a superior cat and mouse thriller well worth a watch.
John Chard
Jun 25, 2019 · via TMDB
Forget the communist fervour and delve deeper. Skip McCoy is a three time loser pick pocket, unable to curb his instincts back on the street, he picks the purse of Candy on a subway train. What he doesn't realise is that Candy is carrying top secret microfilm, microfilm that is of high interest to many many organisations. Director Samuel Fuller has crafted an exceptional drama set amongst the seedy underworld of New York City. Communist spies and shady government operatives all blend together to make Pickup On South Street a riveting viewing from first minute to the last. Based around a Dwight Taylor story called "Blaze Of Glory", Fuller infused this adaptation with a heavy set political agenda, something that many at the time felt was over done, but to only focus on the anti communist leanings is doing it a big disservice. Digging a little deeper and you find characters as intriguing as any that Fuller has directed. The main protagonist for one is the hero of the piece, a crook and a shallow human being, his heroics are not born out of love for his country, they are born out of his sheer stubborn streak. It's quite an achievement that Fuller has crafted one of the best anti heroes of the 1950s, and I'm sure he was most grateful to the performance of Richard Widmark as McCoy. Widmark is all grin and icy cold heart, his interplay with the wonderful Jean Peters as Candy is excellent and is the film's heart. However, it is the Oscar nominated Thelma Ritter who takes the acting honours, her Moe is strong and as seedy as the surrounding characters, but there is a tired warmth to her that Ritter conveys majestically. It's a "B" movie in texture but an "A" film in execution, Pickup On South Street is a real classy and entertaining film that is one of the best from its most intriguing director. 9/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
FlixFling
Philo
FlixFling
FlixFling
Richard Widmark
Skip McCoy
Jean Peters
Candy
Thelma Ritter
Moe Williams
Murvyn Vye
Captain Dan Tiger
Richard Kiley
Joey
Willis Bouchey
Zara
Milburn Stone
Detective Winoki
Parley Baer
Headquarters Communist in Chair (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Virginia Carroll
Nurse (uncredited)
Harry Carter
Detective Dietrich (uncredited)
Clancy Cooper
Detective Eddie (uncredited)
Henry Slate
Detective MacGregor (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin
Subway Passenger (uncredited)
George Eldredge
Fenton (uncredited)
John Gallaudet
Detective Lieutenant Campion (uncredited)
Alan Reed
Detective (uncredited)
Ray Montgomery
Ray, FBI Agent (uncredited)
Ralph Moody
Coffin Boat Captain (uncredited)
Roger Moore
Mr. Victor (uncredited)
George E. Stone
Willie, Police Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
Stuart Randall
Police Commissioner (uncredited)
Travilla
Costume Design
John Hudkins
Stunt Double
Samuel Fuller
Director
Leigh Harline
Original Music Composer
Samuel Fuller
Screenplay
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May 27, 1953
Jun 17, 1953
New York City, New York
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Seven Dorms of Death
2015
Preview
1982
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
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Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
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