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Pickup on South Street Reviews

1953

70
from 801 members

This film noir classic plays on America's paranoia about a Communist takeover in the 1950s. Dwelling in a neon-lit nightscape are: a pickpocket, Skip McCoy; an abused dame, Candy; a seen-it-all stoolie, Moe; Joey, Candy's violent boyfriend and Communist plotter; shifty G-Men; cynical cops; and a whole nest of vipers in fedoras .. Read more

Starring	Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, Thelma Ritter, Murvyn Vye
Director	Samuel Fuller
Genres	Drama, Thriller

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Most helpful member's review of Pickup on South Street
View all members' reviews (18)
- - 5
  - 0
  Pick Up on South Street
  
  A great looking claustrophobic b-movie with the gaunt Widmark compressing layers of, at turns, aggression, passion and menace in this tale of stolen film. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 21842
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Craig Methven
  - Kent
  - 15 Oct 2004 at 12:28
Most recent members' reviews of Pickup on South Street
View all members' reviews (18)
- - 1
  - 0
  Pickup On South Street (1953)
  
  Great '50s noir given a surprisingly violent edge thanks to director Samuel Fuller, this is a no-nonsense thriller set in NYC at the time of the commie '... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 837926
- - Teebs
  - 160 reviews
  - Rochester
  - 07 Dec 2009 at 18:14
- - 0
  - 3
  Oh my lord...
  
  Not sure why I rented this. Somewhat dated (but I was expecting that) and the acting was so over-the-top it was cringe-worthy. One to avoid I'd say.
  
  Report this review
- 832485
- - a customer
  - OXON
  - 19 Nov 2009 at 08:38
- - 0
  - 0
  solid crime drama
  
  a pickpocket finds himself caught between the law and international espionage when he steals the wrong girls purse. Is the girl showing genuine affection for ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 830136
- - itstinks
  - 573 reviews
  - North of Reading
  - 11 Nov 2009 at 20:06
- - 0
  - 0
  This oldie didn't disappoint
  
  I loved watching old films when I was much younger, especially any with Richard Widmark. He still has that old charisma :-) Yes, movie making techniques have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 641848
- - a customer
  - Central Scotland
  - 10 Oct 2008 at 11:47
- - 0
  - 0
  Thank goodness for Thelma Ritter
  
  Richard Widmark has always seemed to me to lack real star quality. He is certainly no luminary of the silver screen. But he makes the most here of a rather ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 627016
- - Migdale
  - 40 reviews
  - Preston
  - 10 Sep 2008 at 09:35
- - 0
  - 0
  as good as expected
  
  Worth watching for what it reveals of that period
  
  Report this review
- 574201
- - a customer
  - Reading
  - 09 Jun 2008 at 19:11
- - 0
  - 0
  Pick up on South Street.
  
  Saw this film many years ago and its still a great film. Good photography,dialogue and who could not love to see Thelma Ritter. Widmark was a fine actor and its... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 511171
- - Allan Gaw
  - Leicester
  - 10 Jan 2008 at 11:03
- - 0
  - 0
  Strange mixture of noir and cold war
  
  This is an excellently acted semi-noir that starts off with the accidental interception of some US secrets by a 'three time loser' pick pocket. He soon... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 496455
- - a customer
  - London
  - 19 Nov 2007 at 17:15
- - 0
  - 0
  When they pick you up in the gutter dead, your hand'll be in a drunk's pocket.
  
  Made when communist paranoia was at its most acute, small-time thief Richard Widmark has to decide between country or money in this red ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 374774
- - ChesterDent
  - 121 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Oct 2006 at 16:34
- - 0
  - 1
  Hard boiled with a touch of humanity.
  
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 358128
- - milnerv
  - Dorset
  - 16 Jan 2006 at 20:41
View all members' reviews (18)

- - 5
  - 0
  Pick Up on South Street
  
  A great looking claustrophobic b-movie with the gaunt Widmark compressing layers of, at turns, aggression, passion and menace in this tale of stolen film. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 21842
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Craig Methven
  - Kent
  - 15 Oct 2004 at 12:28
- - 3
  - 1
  Who Cares?
  
  A well-structured noir with fine lead performances, notably Thelma Ritter as the *professional stool pigeon* Moe. The *red menance* is just a Mcguffin as ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 93855
- - Leon Collins
  - London
  - 18 Apr 2005 at 18:42
- - 2
  - 0
  Dated Commie-bashing Propaganda from the McCarthy Era
  
  There are two ways of approaching this film - on an aesthetic level and on a political one. Aesthetically, it's a fine film, full of dark expressionism and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 90739
- - johnny_friendly
  - London, England
  - 10 Apr 2005 at 15:34
- - 1
  - 0
  Film noir at it's very best
  
  Excellent film noir from cult director Samuel Fuller. Good script, well acted and infused with a claustrophobic intensity that seeps into every frame. Highly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85754
- - a customer
  - Sheffield, England
  - 28 Mar 2005 at 12:14
- - 1
  - 0
  Gritty
  
  Tough gritty film noir with Richard Widmark at his laconic best.
  
  Thelma Ritter steals the show as a down at heal pedlar come police snitch.
  
  Report this review
- 125221
- - Daniel Ward
  - Belfast
  - 19 Jul 2005 at 20:07
- - 1
  - 0
  Pickup On South Street (1953)
  
  Great '50s noir given a surprisingly violent edge thanks to director Samuel Fuller, this is a no-nonsense thriller set in NYC at the time of the commie '... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 837926
- - Teebs
  - 160 reviews
  - Rochester
  - 07 Dec 2009 at 18:14
- - 0
  - 0
  Paranoid Noir
  
  Tight, taut little thriller form America's mad period. The Commies are the villains, our hero a petty thief but not so corrupted that he doesn't feel ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 152143
- - a customer
  - Leyland
  - 19 Sep 2005 at 13:58
- - 0
  - 0
  When they pick you up in the gutter dead, your hand'll be in a drunk's pocket.
  
  Made when communist paranoia was at its most acute, small-time thief Richard Widmark has to decide between country or money in this red ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 374774
- - ChesterDent
  - 121 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Oct 2006 at 16:34
- - 0
  - 0
  Strange mixture of noir and cold war
  
  This is an excellently acted semi-noir that starts off with the accidental interception of some US secrets by a 'three time loser' pick pocket. He soon... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 496455
- - a customer
  - London
  - 19 Nov 2007 at 17:15
- - 0
  - 0
  Pick up on South Street.
  
  Saw this film many years ago and its still a great film. Good photography,dialogue and who could not love to see Thelma Ritter. Widmark was a fine actor and its... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 511171
- - Allan Gaw
  - Leicester
  - 10 Jan 2008 at 11:03

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Pickup on South Street
  
  This film noir classic plays on America's paranoia about a Communist takeover in the 1950s. Dwelling in a neon-lit nightscape are: a pickpocket, Skip McCoy; an abused dame, Candy; a seen-it-all stoolie, Moe; Joey, Candy's violent boyfriend and Communist plotter; shifty G-Men; cynical cops; and a ...