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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I decided to get this on impulse buy having read some good reviews on the web. I have to say that I don't regret it in the least. It's a very good film noir, unusually fast paced both for its genre and time. Within the first few minutes you get addicted. A pickpocket (Richard Widmark) accidentally steals a microfilm from a handbag - only the woman was a corrier and was being followed by the police as they wanted to catch the communist receiver. Soon he has everyone after the film: the police, the communists and the femme fatale from who he had steal it from the first place. Richard Widmark (whom I don't like) and Thelma Ritter give wonderful performances. She is as usual the best thing and a complete scene stealer. She got an Oscar nomination for this but lost rather unfairly for Donna Reed. The DVD itself is a barebone release (there are some trailers for other releases, but not the film's) but the copy is very good.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When Candy (Jean Peters) has her handbag picked by hard boiled pick pocket Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark) we are set off on a chase with relentless cop Dan Tiger (Vye) chasing McCoy for the micro film he unwittingly stole, and communist infiltrator Joey (Kylie) forcing Candy to get the film back from McCoy.
Then enter Moe (Thelma Ritter), an elderly police informer worried about getting enough money for a decent funeral, a part wonderfully acted right down to the last minute detail. Ritter got a well deserved Oscar nomination for supporting actress.
The tough hard boiled drama is lead brilliantly by Widmark as the smart alec pick pocket who takes no hostages, with just a hint of fear knowing he has three convictions and the next one means life, but acted with just the right touch of humanity. Jean Peters is also excellent as the flawed but innocent participant in a communist plot.
These are not nice people, but it is just possible to understand them and their predicaments.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Tough uncompromising film from the arch practitioner of the style.Richard Widmark steals a purse which happens to contain secret microfilm little realising the chain of events that will result from his filching.Enter government agents and assorted others who will stop at nothing to get it back.
Essentially a bleak study of human nature where the most redeemable character turns out to a street informer stunningly played by the wonderful Thelma Ritter this is still terrific stuff.Powerhouse direction, a fast pace and superb location work make this a must see.
Essentially a bleak study of human nature where the most redeemable character turns out to a street informer stunningly played by the wonderful Thelma Ritter this is still terrific stuff.Powerhouse direction, a fast pace and superb location work make this a must see.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
ENCHANTING
Strangely I have seen this film on two occasions over the past 20 years, but on this the third time, it has
made a rather enchanting impression. Read more
made a rather enchanting impression. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Huartson
Pickup on South Street
Exactly as I remember it from previous viewings. This is a film with Widmark in an unusual and very interesting role as a charming but initially unprincipled small time criminal... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ron Lawrence
Excellent film noir, or perhaps film gris
A good story with tension in all the right places, and very good acting by Richard Widmark, Thelma Ritter, and all involved. Read more
Published 9 months ago by The Observer
fim noir cracker
I thought this black and white 'B' movie in the 'film noir' genre a right cracker, full of tense atmosphere and exquisite acting. Read more
Published 10 months ago by I. A. Crichton
Excellent
Good performances from all. It is obvious from some of the dialog that the film was made in the strange atmosphere of the Macarthy years but that doesn't detract from the overall... Read more
Published 14 months ago by davidswiss1
"Pickup on South Street (1953) ... Samuel Fuller ... Criterion...
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... Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Lovins
film noir goody
if you can get over the rather heavy handed "reds under the bed" message this is a cracking good thriller with excellent performances from all the cast and excellent camera work . Read more
Published 24 months ago by R. Poole
Pickup on south street
A great 'reds under the bed' era film from just postwar USA, tells the story of a secret formula on microfilm which is stolen and sought by communist sympathiser agenst operating... Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by Mr. M. Sanders
Good
Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark) pick-pockets Candy's (Jean Peters) wallet
which contains an important microfiche that is intended for the
Communist cause. Read more
which contains an important microfiche that is intended for the
Communist cause. Read more
Published on 19 July 2009 by Alex da Silva
We are all in the gutter
For the last few weeks I've been watching films from countries like Turkey and Vietnam with visceral stories of exploitation, humiliation, damaged love and the impossibility of... Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2009 by Peter Scott-presland
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