A past-his-prime Victor Mature stars in this rarely seen thriller from director John Gilling. Originally released as Interpol in its native UK, the film was retitled for US consumers, who perhaps thought Interpol was a brand of toothpaste. "Get that great Interpol smile!" - I'm just guessing, but it sounds reasonable, right? Mature plays Charles Sturgis, a super secret agent out to break up the narcotics ring of evil dealer Frank McNally (Trevor Howard), who's placed a monkey on the back of Sturgis' sister and then strangled her. Our hero latches on to McNally's moll (Anita Ekberg), and he's soon hot on the villain's trail through the back alleys of Lisbon and Rome. An early effort from James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, Pickup Alley travels from New York to Europe and back again, and features outstanding cinematography by Ted Moore, who would go on to shoot Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball. A superb supporting cast, including Sid James, Eric Pohlmann, Andre Morell, Bonar Colleano, and Marne Maitland make this essential viewing for British cinema enthusiasts.
Review of Pickup Alley
