Movies have often romanticized gangsters, especially during major conflicts like WWII and the Cold War. These characters were criminals—crooks and con artists. Yet, when faced with real threats like fascists or communists, they sometimes stepped up to defend what many saw as “The American Way.”
Take the classic 1953 film “Pickup on South Street” by Samuel Fuller. It captures a mix of tough grit and a touch of sentimentality perfectly.
The story follows Skip McCoy, a petty pickpocket who unwittingly lifts a woman’s purse with something much more valuable than cash: microfilm. Unbeknownst to him, the FBI is interested in that film as it may lead to a dangerous communist plot.
The Feds, desperate for help, turn to Moe, the most notorious informant in New York. Everyone knows her, and while she betrays the criminals she mingles with, even they understand her need to survive.
Moe’s connections with the underworld might just lead them to Skip. As tensions rise, everyone is out to get that microfilm first.
Released during the Korean War and amid the hysteria surrounding communism, “Pickup on South Street” pulses with energy. Richard Widmark plays the shady Skip, while Thelma Ritter shines as the street-smart yet tragic Moe. Jean Peters portrays Candy, who is unwittingly caught up in this dangerous game, and Richard Kiley is the anxious accomplice. Each brings the story to life with captivating performances.
Moe is not just a stool pigeon; she’s a complex character with fears of dying alone, buried in a pauper’s grave. She needs money, and she doesn’t shy away from asking for it, showcasing her desperation and cunning. Candy, meanwhile, thinks she’s just making a delivery, but her connection to the criminal world might put her in serious danger.
Fuller’s dialogue crackles with life. Lines like, “You’ll always be a two-bit cannon,” bring a gritty realism to the narrative. The film digs deep into the themes of survival and morality—positions blurred in times of conflict.
Widmark nails the role of a manipulative hustler, while Ritter’s performance earned her an Oscar nomination. Peters, though famously married to Howard Hughes, shows a raw vulnerability as Candy, who suffers in the grim world Fuller creates.
With sharp dialogue and a gripping plot, Fuller’s masterful direction shines. His style set the tone for the genre, making this film a standout. Critics later celebrated Fuller as an auteur, especially for this gritty classic.
The movie, running just over an hour and twenty minutes, packs a powerful punch, leaving viewers with plenty to think about long after the credits roll.
Rating: Approved for violence and innuendo.
Cast: Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, Thelma Ritter, Willis Bouchey, Murvyn Vye, Milburn Stone, Parley Baer, George Eldredge, and Richard Kiley.
Directed by Samuel Fuller and available for streaming on Tubi.
