Pickup on South Street

Man, what a movie! With the death of Richard Widmark last week (he was in his 90s!) I was reminded of this knockout of a noir flick from 1953. Viewing it again I was still amazed by director Sam Fuller's ability to cram so much into a movie that clocks in at just under 80 minutes. It's a hard boiled tale of pickpockets and communist espionage with characters whose alliances are easily swayed by the lure of cold hard cash. Widmark may have been the star but Thelma Ritter's portrayal of Moe, an ageing necktie seller and police informant, is both poignant and delightful. They sure don't make actors like her anymore. Nor do they make films like this. Fuller's use of black and white cinematography on the backstreets of New York lend this film a grimy and downbeat look that only adds to the film's cynical and dank atmosphere. A must see!