The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/116777
TRIVIA Courtesy of IMDb This Peer to Peer theme, "Data Management: Taming the Explosion," reminds me of a 1953 film noir classic that's all about managing data and the explosive stuff that happens when data get loose. It's called PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, equal parts espionage, petty crime, humor, romance and snappy dialogue. Directed by the legendary maverick Samuel Fuller, it's available on Netflix and well worth your time viewing. The film opens in a jam-packed New York subway car. Candy (Jean Peters) has her wallet lifted by ex-con and smalltime grifter Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark). What neither of them knows is that the pilfered wallet contains a strip of microfilm (that era's flash drive) that she agreed to deliver as a final favor to her sweaty ex-boyfriend, Joey (Richard Kiley). The film bears U.S. military secrets (today's data) bound for Communist spies. Candy and Skip also don't know they're being tailed by federal agents. When Candy realizes that her wallet is missing, her ex goes nuts, demanding she find the pickpocket and get back the wallet. "In New York?," she sarcastically retorts, still unaware of the nature of the lost item. But thanks to a tip from Mo (Thelma Ritter), a professional stoolie, she finds Skip and begs him to return the wallet. But Skip had already discovered the film and hidden it for his own gain, and Candy has to leave empty-handed. Moments later, the cops arrive to haul Skip down to headquarters. First they appeal to his patriotism and then threaten him with lifetime incarceration, but he resists, knowing they can't prove he has the film and planning to sell it to the bad guys. Candy's now frantic ex wants the microfilm back, so he can make the sale he's promised. He convinces Candy it's in her best interest to wheedle it out of Skip any way she can. But Candy and Skip have fallen for each other. Everything begins coming to a head when Joey beats up Candy, because she won't give him Skip's address, and Joey kills poor Mo for the same reason. So how does it all end? Does Skip's love for Candy turn him into a good guy? Is he truly a patriot at heart? Is there more killing and kissing before we see "The End." You'll have to find out for yourself. Meanwhile, you might want to reconsider walking around with an important piece of microfilm — I mean, flash drive — in your pocket. Andy Spiegel is a creative director and freelance writer. A lifelong movie lover, he maintains a movie review blog called My Private Screening Room at andysscreeningroom.blogspot.com. Andy can be contacted at jandy1943@gmail.com. 84 Peer to Peer • Sam Fuller was known for his low-budget genre movies, controversial themes and snappy dialogue. His films were not considered great cinema in their times, but they gained critical respect in the late 1960s. • Early in his career, Richard Widmark specialized in playing villainous or antihero types, including that of the sadistic Tommy Udo in his debut film, KISS OF DEATH. For that he was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Later, he branched out into more heroic leading and support roles in westerns and mainstream dramas, including the prosecuting attorney in JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG. • ou might remember Thelma Ritter as Y Jimmy Stewart's humorously sarcastic nurse Stella in REAR WINDOW. She was also in Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable's final film, THE MISFITS, as well as many others. For her performance as Mo, she was nominated for an Academy Award. • efore signing Jean Peters, Fuller turned B down many actresses for the lead role, including Marilyn Monroe, Shelley Winters and Ava Gardner, who looked too glamorous, and Betty Grable, who foolishly insisted on having a dance number written in. • ichard Kiley was perhaps best known for R having played Don Quixote in the original 1965 production of the Broadway musical MAN OF LA MANCHA. He won three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards during his career.