What a surprise! Launched with no publicity, that I saw, just watched this new Arrow Blue-ray and it is an absolute gem. Anglo-American production from Warwick Films, a company set up in part by fledgling producer, Albert A Broccoli and starring Victor Mature as a not so gentle gentleman and Anita Ekberg, on the cusp of stardom. Both are great, Mature letting fly with his fists at the slightest provocation and Ekberg holding her own well enough and looking marvellous. The noirish narcotics drama moves incredibly fast and covers much ground with fabulous views of New York, London, Rome and the Greek port of Piraeus. Trevor Howard is ever present and the best I've seen him, relishing his role as chief baddie and we even get a raft of smaller parts played by familiar faces including Sid James bookending the film as barman. Excellent.
Review of Pickup Alley
