Pickup on South Street

The Criterion Collection presents "PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET" (1953) (80 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Extravagant claims are made for this noirish spy film and for its director, Sam Fuller --- It has its moments of technical brilliance in lighting and camera placement and two superb performances (by Richard Widmark as Skip, a professional pickpocket just released from his third prison term, and Thelma Ritter as Moe, who sells information and ties) --- The plot centers on microfilm being followed by FBI agents en route to a Soviet agent when a pickpocket takes the billfold it is in out of the courier's purse on a subway.

Two of my favorite actors Widmark and Ritter, hit the bullseye in another great film about the life and times of people trying to make it in this crazy world of ours.

Need to pick this up on Criterion, for any film collector this is a must have in your ever growing collection on noir.

Under the production staff of:
Samuel Fuller [Director/Screenplay]
Dwight Taylor [Story]
Jules Schermer [Producer]
Leigh Harline [Original Film Score]
Joseph MacDonald [Cinematographer]
Nick DeMaggio [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Samuel Fuller [Director]
Date of Birth: 12 August 1912 - Worcester, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 30 October 1997, Hollywood, California

2. Richard Widmark
Date of Birth: 26 December 1914 - Sunrise Township, Minnesota
Date of Death: 24 March 2008 - Roxbury, Connecticut

3. Jean Peters
Date of Birth: 15 October 1926- Canton, Ohio
Date of Death: 13 October 2000, Carlsbad, California

4. Thelma Ritter
Date of Birth: 14 February 1905 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 5 February 1969 - New York

the cast includes:
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 ]

SPECIAL FEATURES [BONUS]:
1. New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound
2. Exclusive interview with the late Samuel Fuller, made by renowned film critic Richard Schickel
3. Excerpts from the Cinéma Cinémas series with Fuller discussing the making of the film
4. Illustrated biographical essay on Fuller by Jeb Brody (Scenario, Print magazines)
5. Stills gallery of photos, posters, lobby cards, and original paintings by noted artist Russell Christian (The New York Times, The New Yorker)
6. Trailers for Pickup on South Street and other Fuller features
7. Booklet including excerpts from Fuller's award-winning autobiography A Third Face, featuring Martin Scorsese's introduction and Fuller on Pickup on South Street, plus a new essay by acclaimed cultural historian Luc Sante (Low Life, Evidence)
8. English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
9. Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 1/2 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 1/2 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 80 min on DVD ~ Criterion ~ (02/17/2004)

Skip Mc Coy (Richard Widmark) is a person without colective importance; a rough pickpocket , a scroungy pretty gangster who sneeks a look into a woman's handbag, turns up some microfilm and finds himself dealing with communist agents.
This is a well made film, with a lot of issues. Moe (Thelma Ritter)overtakes this role as a street peddler who sells information.
A film which reveals as a few, the sordid and sinister underworld linked with the spy world which is blackmailed by a pedestrian thief.
Fuller's view is incisive, bitter and ironical. Nevetheless the film has unforgettable funny situations.
Thelma Ritter was a very talented actress and bowever, she never won an Academy Award ; but her shinning presence gives to the clever script that touch of class and outrageous fierce character; and of course don't forget adding the charismatical performance of Richard Widmark.
One of the most imaginative and powerful film noir made in any age.

Excellent old time detective thriller. You never have a doubt as to what's going to happen, but getting to go along for the ride, makes it worth all the while. Just the right bit of humour too...well worth adding to any collection.