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Pickpocket (1959)

7.9
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Ratings: 7.9/10 from 8,185 users  
Reviews: 54 user | 67 critic

Michel is released from jail after serving a sentence for thievery. His mother dies and he resorts to pickpocketing as a means of survival.

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Title: Pickpocket (1959)

Pickpocket (1959) on IMDb 7.9/10

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Michel (as Martin La Salle)
Marika Green ...
Jean Pélégri ...
Dolly Scal ...
Pierre Leymarie ...
Kassagi ...
...
César Gattegno ...
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Storyline

Michel takes up picking pockets as a hobby, and is arrested almost immediately, giving him the chance to reflect on the morality of crime. After his release, though, his mother dies, and he rejects the support of friends Jeanne and Jacques in favour of returning to pickpocketing (after taking lessons from an expert), because he realises that it's the only way he can express himself... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

friend | police | horse race | stealing | love | See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

16 December 1959 (France)  »

Also Known As:

Diario di un ladro  »

Filming Locations:


Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (1965)

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Michel studies the book "Prince of Pickpockets" (1930), a biography of the Irish pickpocket George Barrington written by Richard S. Lambert. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Hail Mary (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

"Suite de symphonies d'Amadis (selection)"
(title uncredited)
Music by Jean-Baptiste Lully (as J.B. Lulli)
Transcription: Fernand Oubradous (as F. Oubradous)
Conducted by Marc Lanjean
Éditions Transatlantiques
See more »

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User Reviews

 
The Fall and Redemption of a Pickpocket
12 June 2009 | by (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – See all my reviews

In Paris, the lonely and anguished pickpocket Michel (Martin La Salle) lives in a dirty little room and spends his time stealing wallets and purses in public spaces. His only friends are Jacques (Pierre Leymarie), who tries to help him to find a job, and his mother's next door neighbor Jeanne (Marika Green). After the death of his mother, Michel teams-up with two smalltime thieves despite the permanent surveillance of the local police inspector (Jean Pélégri). Later he travels overseas to get rid of the observation of the police, but two years later he returns to Paris and finds Jeanne alone, with her son with Jacques after a brief love affair. Michel decides to help her and find an honest job; but in a horse race, he is tempted by his addiction with tragic consequences.

This is the first time that I have watched"Pickpocket" and I expected much more from this famous movie. The development of the lead character Michel is confused and it is clear that he is a troubled, lonely and anguished unemployed young man, but it is never clear the motives why he is addicted in stealing since he shows no ambition or dream or love. The beauty of Marika Green is impressive and she seems to love Michel since the very beginning but again her feelings are never clear. Indeed the actors and actress express no sentiments and the plot is very weird. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Pickpocket"


12 of 18 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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