Art House Preview: “Pickup on South Street”

Film fans looking for a break from the often forced frivolity of the holiday season can thank curator Jerry Harrington for programming a little film noir at the Tivoli at the Nelson-Atkins.

In this week’s edition of “Art House,” Harrington touts “Pickup on South Street,” a 1953 film starring Richard Widmark, Jean Peters and Thelma Ritter. In 2018, the Cold War thriller was cited as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” when it was added to the National Film Registry.

“It’s a marvelous black-and-white noir film – very moody,” Harrington says in the attached video preview.

Put simply, it’s the perfect change of pace for folks looking to give their smiling holiday facial muscles a rest. “Pickup on South Street” is screening at 7 p.m. tonight at the Tivoli at the Nelson-Atkins.

See you at the movies.