Pickup on South Street (1953)
Pickup on South Street is a 1953 Cold War spy film noir written and directed by Samuel Fuller, and released by the 20th Century Fox studio. The film stars Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, and Thelma Ritter. It was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 1953. In 2018, Pickup on South Street was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Director – Samuel Fuller
Writers – Samuel Fuller (screenplay), Dwight Taylor (story)
Cast –
Richard Widmark as Skip McCoy
Jean Peters as Candy
Thelma Ritter as Moe
Murvyn Vye as Captain Dan Tiger
Richard Kiley as Joey
Willis Bouchey as Zara
Milburn Stone as Winoki
Parley Baer as Heavyset HQ Communist (sitting in chair)
George E. Stone as Willie, Police Desk clerk
Stuart Randall as Detective
Watch “Pickup on South Street” (1953)
Plot
On a crowded New York City subway train, pickpocket Skip McCoy steals Candy’s wallet. Unbeknownst to Skip or Candy, in the wallet is microfilm of top-secret government information. Candy was delivering an envelope as a final favor to her ex-boyfriend, Joey. Joey has told her that it contains stolen business secrets and she believed him, unaware that Joey is actually a communist spy.
Government agent Zara had Candy under surveillance, hoping she would lead him to the top man in the spy ring. He seeks police help to identify the thief. Police Captain Dan Tiger has professional informant Moe Williams brought in. She asks Zara several questions about the pickpocket’s technique, and after she and Tiger agree on a price, she gives him a list of eight names; Zara quickly identifies Skip from his mug shot. Zara tries to get Skip to give up the film, revealing its importance and appealing to his (non-existent) patriotism, but Skip denies everything.
Meanwhile, Joey persuades a reluctant Candy to track down the thief using her underworld connections. The trail leads to Moe, who is delighted to be able to sell the same information a second time, knowing that her good friend Skip will not mind.
Candy searches Skip’s waterfront shack that night while he is out. When he returns, he spots her flashlight, sneaks in and knocks her out. When she comes to, she tries to get the film from him without success. The second time she visits, she is puzzled when he calls her a “commie” and “a Red” and demands $25,000 for the film. He reveals that he knows what is on the film. Skip thinks she is only acting. Despite his rough treatment, however, she finds herself falling for him.
When she returns to Joey, his superior gives him a day to get the film back, and leaves him a gun. Candy finally realizes the truth. She turns to Moe for help, since Skip will not believe it if she tells him he is in danger. Moe tries, but fails, to convince Skip to give the film to the government. Moe goes home, and finds Joey waiting for her. Moe refuses to reveal Skip’s address, taunting Joey, and he shoots her dead.
The next morning, Skip returns home to find Candy there. She blames herself for Moe’s death, but to her dismay, Skip is still willing to deal with Joey. When he starts to leave with the film, she knocks him out with a bottle and takes it to Zara and Tiger. Zara asks her to give Joey the film, so he can lead them to his boss. Candy does, but Joey notices that there is a frame missing. He beats Candy in an attempt to get Skip’s address, then shoots her as she tries to leave. In her purse, Joey finds Skip’s address. Skip visits Candy in the hospital and comforts her.
Joey and an associate go to the shack, but Skip hears them coming and hides underneath. When Joey is ordered to deliver the portion of film he does have, Skip follows him to a subway station. He watches as the film is exchanged in a restroom, then knocks out the ringleader and chases after and beats up Joey.
Later, at the police station, Tiger predicts Skip will return to his criminal ways, but he and a recovered Candy leave together.