“I’m not selling out my country… I’m selling out you.”
synopsis
Petty pickpocket Skip McCoy steals a wallet on a New York subway, unaware that it contains microfilm sought by Communist spies. As federal agents close in and the spies hunt him down, Skip must decide whether self-preservation or reluctant patriotism will guide his next move.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Lean, gritty, and unapologetically street-level. Samuel Fuller strips noir down to sweat and cynicism. Richard Widmark plays Skip as a smirking opportunist, not a hero. The film’s anti-Communist backdrop feels era-specific, but the moral grime feels timeless. The real standout is Thelma Ritter’s heartbreaking performance as a weary informant clinging to dignity.
A tough mood.
Appreciating performances over polish.
Watching Ritter quietly steal scenes.
Absurdist's Corner
A career criminal accidentally stumbles into Cold War espionage because he picked the wrong pocket.
fun facts
Director Jules Dassin was blacklisted shortly after the film’s release.
Widmark plays another jittery, morally compromised character — very different from his smoother roles.
Multiple cuts of the film exist, including a shorter U.S. version.