Product Details

• Actors: Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, Vanity, John Glover, Robert Trebor
• Directors: John Frankenheimer
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Cobra Productions
• VHS Release Date: November 14, 1994
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303332390
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,096 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #40 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem > Blackmail
  #100 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem > Kidnapping & Missing Persons

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Adapting Elmore Leonard's novels for the big screen has often proved to be a hit-or-miss proposition (Get Shorty and Jackie Brown are notable exceptions), but director John Frankenheimer is mostly on the mark with 52 Pick-Up. Leonard also co-wrote the screenplay, which stars Roy Scheider as Harry Mitchell, a businessman whose life is turned upside down when he's videotaped in flagrante delicto with his very young mistress (Kelly Preston); he's then approached by three bad guys (John Glover as vile ringleader Alan, Clarence Williams III as menacing gunman Bobby, and Robert Trebor as sweaty, nebbishy Leo), who demand big bucks from Harry in return for the tape. That's the plan, anyway. But Harry fights back. He confesses all to his long-suffering wife (Ann-Margret, fine in an underwritten part) and refuses to go the cops in order to protect her burgeoning political career; he's also unwilling to hand over the money, choosing instead to take on the villains, whose own mistrust of one another makes Harry's mission easier. All the elements one might expect are on display (including kidnapping, murder, and blackmail), coated with a patina of sleaze that features ample nudity (the bad guys also happen to be pornographers), profanity, and fairly graphic violence. Still, for all its arch tone, pithy dialogue, and a plot twist here and there, 52 Pick-Up lacks the full measure of subtlety, tension, and excitement that would make it really good, instead of merely serviceable. The DVD includes no bonus material. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars View This one...SPORT!, November 11, 2001

By	Hillary (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

That's what Alan Raimy, played by John Glover, nick-names his blackmailing victim, played by Roy Scheider, in this highly entertaining film. This movie features a trio of of bad guys that is unsurpassed. Roy Scheider finds himself meeting them face to ski mask after a brief affair with stripper "Cindy" played by a young Kelly Preston. Cindy worked at a strip club with Prince protege Vanity, as Doreen. Doreen just happens to be dating Bobby, part of the trio. Bobby is brought to low-life by a thoroughly demented Clarence Williams the Third (Mod Squad). There is a great scene where Bobby comes into Doreens apartment while she's asleep. Bobby thinks Doreen gave Scheider the info to find out who and where they are. To insure she's telling the truth when she says she never told him...he almost suffocates her with her own giant teddy bear. Then hilariously, after she is completely terrified, and he satisfied she's been truthful, he tells her to "get some rest." Sure! >There is also the pathetic Leo, third man in the trio, but he's more like Alan and Bobby's gofer. He's weak, and folds easily under pressure.>Meanwhile, Scheider's affair ends up video-taped by the trio while in a hotel with Cindy, and the trio then gets a hold of him to show him a video tape where they use his stolen gun to shoot and murder her. From there, the trio tries to extort money from Scheider, but all he and politcal wife Ann-Margret can afford is $52,000...hence the title.>This movie has a great feel, pacing, and really keeps you interested throughout. John Glover as Alan Raimy, leader of the gang, and porn king who runs an X-rated movie theatre, is highly amusing. He enjoys video-taping homemade porno movies, and calling Scheider "Sport." He thinks he's got Scheider just where he wants him, but finds out soon enough, his is a losers game. >This is a great John Frankenheimer masterpiece, and like many great films, will end up missed by most. If you've read this review though, maybe I've convinced you to check it out. You'll be riveted beginning to end, guaranteed.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nasty little gem..."Hey SPORT", August 10, 2005

By	G. Mitchell "greggmitch" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 52 Pick Up [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this in the theaters when it first came out in the 80s, not expecting much, but then - BAM! - this nasty little gem of a thriller delivers thrills in spades. JOHN GLOVER creates one of the most chilling, yet hilarious, villains in film history - and the film's most infamous sequence - the videotape replay of Cindy's snuff-movie murder that Glover forces Scheider to watch in horror SITTING THE SAME CHAIR WHERE SHE WAS KILLED! - still never fails to disturb the viewer. Frankenheimer directs how the best do: so seamless and suble and unobtrusive, you never notice him tightening the screws right up until a white-knuckle climax. I cannot quite believe this film is still NOT ON DVD, even though the shelves are crammed with lesser product. C'mon, guys, get with it! Once you see 52 PICK-UP, you will never forget it.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Gotta lot a mileage on her", October 7, 2005

By	ajsteele - See all my reviews

I've been waiting for this movie to be released on dvd in widescreen with extras for years. I hope Roy Scheider knows about this non release. The movie has been forgotten or hung up for whatever reason and it's a damn shame. The acting is superior all around. John Glover plays one of the best weird, cleverly evil criminals of filmdom. Yes I'd go that far. The movie has a mixture of many elements. One element captures perfectly the decadent street sex of the eighties. Also mixed in between Roy Scheiders affluent fish out of water charactor are drugs, kidnapping, revenge, love, lust, redemption and betrayal. Also added to the boiling pot are an unusual assembly of actors. Some are the epitome of the eighties. Others are old screen stars, decent tv actors, then unknown names, great charactor actors and even a "cameo" by a renowned porn "star". This caldron, well paced and plotted really nails it. Some may say I'm overratting it, and maybe I am a bit, but hey, I'm the reviewer. 52 Pickup is well done, particually now in a nostalgic way. Forget the VHS tape(even laserdisc). DVD only. Hang in there sport. [UPDATE 6/9/07: Im sure Roy Schieder does know what happening with this film. I have a multi region dvd player and have finally seen this classic on dvd. It can be purchased through Amazon as a region 2 disc. Several web sites have also pointed out that it will be released in the good old USA this summer. The region 2 disc picture and audio are just ok. Im hoping the region 1 release will be much improved with seriously needed extras. "She still cooks." ]