Pickup on South Street (1953)

Tough little B-noir elevated by razor-sharp direction and excellent performances (Thelma Ritter's a gas); interesting to note that despite its use of Communists as villains, the film doesn't seem especially anti-Red and in a way predicts the then-forthcoming Communist witchhunts (after all, nobody believes Candy isn't a Communist). Exciting, visceral, funny, altogether fantastic entertainment.

Grade: A-