Pickup on South Street
Film historian Christina Putnam introduces the screening.
Low-budget maestro Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this Cold War–era film noir starring Richard Widmark as a pickpocket who steals a wallet containing a strip of microfilm bearing government secrets. Thelma Ritter received an Oscar nomination for her role as a stool pigeon whose fervent wish is to earn enough money for a cemetery plot so she will not be buried anonymously.
This film series has received generous support from the Vaughn Foundation.
Underwriting for the Film Department is provided by Tenaris, The June Leaf and Robert Frank Foundation, and the Vaughn Foundation.
Generous funding is provided by The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea; Nina and Michael Zilkha; Foundation for Independent Media Arts; Franci Neely; Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick; Ms. Laurence Unger; L'Alliance Française de Houston; and ILEX Foundation.
Pickup on South Street
Directed by Samuel Fuller
(USA, 1953, 80 minutes, in English)
Brown Auditorium Theater, 35mm