One of the best American films of Noir cinema.

Author: psagray from Spain
7 February 2013

"Skip McCoy" (Richard Widmark), is a common pickpocket who robs a woman named "Candy" (Jean Peters) and seizes a valuable microfilm containing state secrets. But "Candy" was under surveillance by government agents, so that "Skip" will become suspicious."Pickup on South Street" was one of the few films of Fuller financed by a studio (Fox). Written and directed by the author, was shot in NYC in 20 days with a low budget. He earned two nominations: Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (Thelma Ritter) and the Golden Lion at Venice.

The film moves in dark environments and underground metro, wooden house suspended over the sea, apartment of Joel .... Speaking of murders, thieves, spies, FBI agents and, especially, of the Cold War that pitted the U.S. and the USSR. The action takes place in the context of this war, whose greatest exponents were the conventional and nuclear arms race and the actions of espionage and counterespionage. The theft of the portfolio "Candy" who takes one last favor to her former boyfriend who is a spy for the Soviet Union, a fact that "Candy" ignored, causing an incident involving Soviet spies and FBI agents against a thief driven by financial claims and indifferent to appeals to patriotism. The film speaks eloquently of criminal violence as an integral part of society and sincere love, inspiring generous actions.

Its excellent music makes a decisive contribution to the creation of the climate of tension in which the action takes place. The photography is superb. Includes long sequences, a constant movement of the camera, limited space scenarios, and close-ups very expressive of the feelings of the protagonists. The opening scene of the robbery in the subway, is told in an extraordinary way. Interpretations of Widmark, Thelma Ritter and Peters are splendid. The script is made with a keen sense of synthesis and is based on a story by Dwight Taylor. The direction creates a work exciting, vibrant and intense, that once achieved great success of pubic and criticism.

Classic Noir Film, located in a historic moment passed. It is the most accessible and most commercial film of the author and, at the same time, one of the best films of Noir American cinema of the 50s of the last century.