PICKUP ALLEY (INTERPOL)

UK, 1957, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Victor Mature, Anita Ekberg, Trevor Howard, Bonar Colleano, Dorothy Allison.
Directed by John Gilling.

Pickup Alley is a mid 50s version of the drug and police thrillers of the 70s and 80s. It is a British production, directed by John Gilling, director of a number of B budget adventures and horror films. Victor Mature is the hero, supported by a strong British cast including Trevor Howard as a maniacal drug dealer. Anita Ekberg was popular at the time and is the ambiguous heroine.

The film seems fairly basic - it also reminds us that drug problems existed before the 60s. An interesting comparison with later movies and realities.

1. Interesting enjoyable thriller? The 50s? Drugs?

2. Black and white photography, international settings and locations -the travelogue touches for the European cities? musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Interpol, networking and connections of the criminals and of the police investigators?

4. The drug situation, Frank Mc Nally, the initial murder, involvement of Charles Sturgis? Mc Nally and his mania, brutality, his connections? In the bars? Gina as a courier? His hold over her? Threats? International connections with her? In Rome? Following Sturgis, keeping an eye on him? His henchmen? The police investigations, the ship, the trip to New York, his mastery of the organization? Confrontation with Sturgis and his death?

5. Sturgis as the American police hero? His sister's death? Tough, involved, abilities? Relationships with authorities? English information? Leads, interviews? Following Gina? The American seller at the catacombs, paying for information? The leads, confrontation with Mc Nally, with Gina?

6. Gina, Mc Nally's hold over her, Gramick, international travel, carrying the drugs? Being used? Confrontation with Mc Nally? Confrontation with Sturgis?

7. The American seller at the Catacombs, his observation, leads, making a living, police collaborator?

8. The picture of the police, authorities, networking, communications?

9. The underworld of drug smuggling, the barkeepers and their observations and leads? Violent henchmen? Professional killers? The consequent violence of the drugs? The drug dependency victims? The picture of the 50s - in comparison with later decades?