Pickup on South Street

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Pickup on South Street

Released Jun 17, 1953

1h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In New York City, an insolent pickpocket, Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark), inadvertently sets off a chain of events when he targets ex-prostitute Candy (Jean Peters) and steals her wallet. Unaware that she has been making deliveries of highly classified information to the communists, Candy, who has been trailed by FBI agents for months in hopes of nabbing the spy ringleader, is sent by her ex-boyfriend, Joey (Richard Kiley), to find Skip and retrieve the valuable microfilm he now holds.

Critics Consensus

Powerfully acted and satisfyingly dark, Pickup on South Street is a Cold War noir that moves confidently to the rhythm of city street life.

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Philip French

Guardian

Fuller hooks us into a complex moral web that never lets up.

Feb 13, 2025

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J. Hoberman

The New York Review of Books

Insanely slangy, deliriously hard-boiled noir...

Mar 8, 2019

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

While applauding the patriotism of his low-lifes, Fuller powerfully evokes a '50s world of brutality, compromise and redemption.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 5, 2019

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Fedor Tot

Vague Visages

That, of course, doesn’t mean urban anxiety and corruption aren’t present in LA noir, but there remains something specifically and inherently New York about Fuller’s masterful Pickup on South Street...

Jun 13, 2023

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

It remains a staple of Fuller’s masterful storytelling set in the city he once prowled as a beat reporter.

Feb 28, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A film that spits in the face of patriotism in favor of human survival.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 20, 2022

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Zackary T

One of my all time favorite films. Sam Fuller was truly a master of the small, short, and heavy hitting b movies. The dialogue and acting in this film is truly remarkable. Thelma Ritter has me in tears everytime.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/08/24

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James B

Cold War Noir. Too bad it wasn't directed by Hitchcock or it could've become a classic. The premise is brilliant and the style is classic noir. I tried to not let the honor-among-thieves subplot bother me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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nick s

Well acted and good camera work.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

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acsdoug D

The story is nothing special really, but Samuel Fuller's direction is flawless, a young Rickard Widmark playing the tough guy is always a treat. and I was very impressed with Jean Peters performance. She achieved the perfect balance between hard boiled and vulnerable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/02/23

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Erica K

"Pickup on South Street" is considered one of the best film noirs and showcases Sam Fuller's controlled direction. The film revolves around a pickpocket, played by Richard Widmark, who steals microfilm intended for communist spies, leading to a series of events involving a woman, Jean Peters, and a stool pigeon, Thelma Ritter. While the love story feels rushed and somewhat unbelievable, Richard Widmark delivers an excellent performance, and Thelma Ritter's portrayal adds unexpected emotional depth to the film, particularly in her memorable final scene.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/26/23

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Ted B

3.5 stars; An excellent film noir from 1953. Richard Widmark plays a pickpocket who gets a lot more than he bargained for when he picks the purse of Jean Peters, who plays a gopher for a con man played by Richard Kiley. Rounding out an all star cast from that era is Thelma Ritter who plays a snitch that fingers the con man, not knowing what's really going on with him. She pays the ultimate price in the end. If you enjoy film noir that reflects the seamy side of NYC of the 50's, then this is your flick!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/23

Full Review

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Samuel Fuller

Director

Richard Widmark

Skip McCoy

Jean Peters

Candy

Thelma Ritter

'Moe' Williams

Murvyn Vye

Capt. Dan Tiger

Richard Kiley

Joey

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Synopsis

In New York City, an insolent pickpocket, Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark), inadvertently sets off a chain of events when he targets ex-prostitute Candy (Jean Peters) and steals her wallet. Unaware that she has been making deliveries of highly classified information to the communists, Candy, who has been trailed by FBI agents for months in hopes of nabbing the spy ringleader, is sent by her ex-boyfriend, Joey (Richard Kiley), to find Skip and retrieve the valuable microfilm he now holds.

Director: Samuel Fuller
Producer: Jules Schermer
Screenwriter: Samuel Fuller, Dwight Taylor
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 1953, Original
Release Date (DVD): Feb 17, 2004
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm