Pick-Up on South Street

#1 How does the film relate to Chapter 23 in Foner? A solid answer should cover at least two themes from Foner connected to at least two scenes from the film.

 Chapter 23 talks about the cold war and its effect on the American people. Foner's book discusses the mindset of the people, believing that the American way of life was the path to liberty and freedom with communism being a symbol of oppression. America claimed itself to be the leader of the free world in its righteous fight against communism.
 During the cold war there was paranoia about communist spies infiltrating the U.S. people who sympathized with communism would be quickly labeled traitors. No one wanted to be viewed as unpatriotic. When Skip finds out whats on the microfilm and calls Candy a "red" she is immediately infuriated by his accusation because of the strong social stigma around communism at the time and the implications of being against freedom.




#2 What does the character of Moe reveal about how issues of criminality and the underworld are portrayed against a backdrop of anti-communist cultural sensibilities? Use at least two scenes from the film to make your argument.

Moe is first shown as a petty snitch willing to rat out others just to make a quick buck. She isn't shown to be very loyal to the police or to other criminals and is only interested in making money. Moe sells Skips whereabouts to both the police and to Candy so she can pay for a nice grave. Moe later stands up to Joey refusing to help communists and betray her friend instead choosing death, an act that shows that even the people who live in the criminal world can feel a sense of patriotism. When asked by Joey what she knows she responds "about commies nothing, but I do know one thing, I just don't like them" which shows that without any real knowledge about communists goals and ideals American citizens take to heart the demonizing propaganda .


#3 What does Skip McCoy represent in the film? (Is he a patriotic American? A critic of Cold War culture? A traitor?) Use at least two scenes from the film in your response.

 The character Skip McCoy walks the line between hero and villain throughout the film. Skip is first shown as a pickpocket who only cares about himself, he has no qualms with dealing with communists and is even willing to sell out his nation for twenty five thousand dollars. Skip in the end saves the day by killing Joey and returning the microfilm leaving with Candy and a cleaned criminal record.
  Skip obviously felt no strong obligations to his country, when Candy came to his house for the microfilm Skip was most interested in getting money not protecting the nation.
Skip had been told in the police station that the microfilm had important information and that withholding information was an act of treason and yet he still never intended to return it. Skip although trying to be portrayed as a protagonist of sorts is only a selfish man who's later action of stopping Joey was more fueled by the pain of losing Moe and the anger for the hospitalized Candy rather than a sense of patriotic duty. Returning the film became the only option for Skip in the end, with no buyer he still managed to use it to get himself a clean slate. Skip is no patriot regardless of doing the right thing in the end.

#4 Would the portrayal of the police and various "secret" agents instill confidence that Americans could combat communist spying? Use at least two scenes in your answer.  

Throughout the film the police and secret agents were portrayed as inept and unable to do their jobs, it was difficult to determine whether or not they were shown that way intentionally. The police and government agents struggle throughout the entire movie. In the opening scene the government agents fail to keep track of Skip after they see him steal from Candy. The police were later unable to identify Skip without the aid of Moe. When the officers had Skip tailed he easily identified and separated himself from the perusing policeman. During Joey's escape he was able to easily evade and take out police officers, in the end it was Skip who faced Joey and stopped him.
  America showed little ability to deal with communist spies, the film did not inspire confidence in the governments ability to protect its people. Perhaps the portrayal of the police and secret agents as incapable and making the true hero's of the story civilians is meant to encourage ordinary people to do what they can in America's fight against communism because even the police need help.