PICKUP

US, 1951, 78 minutes, Black-and-white.
Hugo Haas, Beverly Michaels, Allan Nixon, Howland Chamberlain.
Directed by Hugo Haas.

Hugo Haas was a celebrated Czech actor in the 1930s but fled his country after the Nazi invasion, went to the United States, worked in propaganda. In the late 1940s he began a series of small-budget films which were considered exploitative, using actresses Beverly Michaels and Cleo Moore. He also appeared as a character actor in his films.

In this film he plays a European migrant in charge of a remote railway station, a pickup. He is a widower, lonely, and his dog dies. He is targeted by a capricious and glamorous young woman, responding to her flattery, marrying her.

Needless to say, the marriage is doomed, she has married him for security but finds the remote railway station stifling. She is also attracted to her husband’s assistant. At one stage, her husband becomes deaf, enabling the wife to say what she liked in criticising him, especially to the assistant. Knocked over by a car in the town, he regains his hearing but decides not to let it be known – so hears his wife’s complaints and her eventual urging the assistant to murder him.

The finale is not quite as violent as one might expect, the assistant unable to kill, the husband helping him to reunite with his girlfriend, and the wife walking out (and the husband getting a new dog courtesy of his friend and tramp, the Professor).

This is one of the early films of Beverly Michaels who made films from 1949 to 1956 when she married the director Russell Rouse, staying with him 30 years until his death, with two children. She had many vamp roles – but it is worth seeing her final film Blonde Bait/Women Without Men to see a more genteel side.

1. Small-budget film noir? The work of the director, as writer-director-actor? The work of Beverly Michaels?

2. The setting, the railway station and line with its isolation, the mountainous background? The contrast with the town, shops, diners, the fair? The musical score?

3. The title, with reference to the station and its function? And Hunky picking up Betty?

4. The story of Hunky? Widower, isolated, his work at the station, his being trusted? His friendship with the Professor, helping and welcoming him? Steve as his assistant? The death of his dog, the haggling over buying a new dog? In the diner, Betty having him as target, his response to her interventions, paying the bill, flattered that she would accompany him, seeing her on the merry-go-round, the various rides? The further meeting with Betty, her playing up to him? The wedding? Her settling in, yet discontent? His trying to please her, her wanting him to leave, his not wanting to tell a lie? Going to the mountain, seeing the dangerous cliff with Betty? His turns? Going deaf? Betty talking and flirting with Steve? His going into town, with the Professor, the accident, regaining his hearing, not telling Betty and Steve? Hearing Betty, her despising of him, plots? His playing along and pretending? Realising what Betty intended? Going out with Steve, looking at Steve, Steve not killing him? His return, Betty and her departure, the phone call and his urging Steve to go to his girlfriend? The Professor bringing the new dog?

5. Betty and Irma, on the merry-go-round, sexual attraction? Needing jobs? Betty deciding to get Hunky to pay for her meal? Her manoeuvres, his paying, accompanying him throughout the fair? The later meeting? Going out, her playing up to him? The reality of her being ousted from the flat, not able to pay the rent? The marriage? In the house, her discontent? Dressing up and going out for a good time? Hunky and his deafness? Her reactions, trying to get him to leave, to lie about his application? Her flirting with Steve? Not realising that Hunky had regained his hearing? The talk, pretending that Hunky had beaten her, getting Steve’s attention, his lawyer friend and the issue of the joint account? Her planning Hunky’s killing? Upset at his return, upset at Steve? Realising the truth? Leaving?

6. Steve, the assistant, his work, his girlfriend, attracted to Betty, loyalty to Hunky? Helping Betty with the lawyer, upset at Hunky’s alleged beatings, the plan to murder, his not
being able to? Hunky helping him with his girlfriend at the end?

7. The Professor, the tribe, sponging on Hunky, yet friendship, the buying of the dog, the visits, his spurning of Betty? Her poking her tongue out at him at the end?

8. A film noir, B-budget of the early 1950s?