Richard Widmark Tribute

We watched Pickup on South Street to commemorate the passing of Richard Widmark. Too bad we always wait for a funeral to do these retrospectives.

We'd seen Pickup a while ago, but didn't remember much beyond the setup: Richard Widmark picks Jean Peters wallet out of her handbag. But he (and she) didn't know that the wallet contained microfilmed secrets headed for - the commies! The feds had been trailing Peters to find her contact, and now they are after Widmark. When Peters' commie boyfriend finds out, he sends her out to find Widmark as well. The cops and Peters both find Widmark through a little old stool pigeon, played by Thelma Ritter.

What I'd forgotten is how brutal the movie is - of course, Sam Fuller directs. In one of their first scenes together, Widmark slugs Jean Peters, and then spends the rest of the scene caressing her damaged jaw. Of course, she falls for him hard. Of course, he only wants money, and the commie's money is as good as anyone else's.

Fuller's direction is sure throughout, with surprisingly fluid camera work - surprising, because the film has a gritty B-movie quality, where static setups are the rule and the budget doesn't stretch to crane shots. Mostly, he establishes the gritty mood and ratchets up the tension. And particularly, disgust and hatred of the commies. I'm not sure, but I'll bet Fuller was never an unfriendly witness before HUAC.

Widmark seems perfect for the role of unrepentant pickpocket. He has just gotten out of prison after his third conviction. He lives in an abandoned baitshack by the river. But he is always cool, lifting a crate of beer out of the river and offering one to the police when he is rousted. He is unflappable under interrogation, romantic and ruthless with women and just a little sentimental. When he notices that Thelma Ritter has been shopping his name around, he says, "No harm done, she doesn't mean anything by it. She needs to make a living too."

In conclusion, Richard Widmark, rest in peace. Thanks for the great movies.