The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 30, 2026

Lee Frost's "The Pick-Up" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include new video essay by by critic and filmmaker Stephen Broomer; photo gallery with an excerpt from a conversation between exploitation icon David F. Friedman and Something Weird Video creator Mike Vraney; and original trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Had Joe Sarno specialized in crime films rather than erotic films, The Pick-Up probably would have been one of his masterpieces. The Pick-Up is supposed to be just a crime film, but there is enough skin in it to impress a loyal Sarno fan.

In Las Vegas, mafia couriers Tony (Wes Bishop) and Frankie (Stefan Zema) are handed one million dollars, packed in several boxes and placed in a large suitcase. The money is to be transported to Los Angeles, where mafia boss Sal (Bob Creese) eagerly awaits the delivery. However, less than an hour outside Las Vegas, even though it is against the rules, Tony and Frankie pull over and pick up two girls (Lois Ursone and Lynn Harris) whose car has stopped working. When the first roadside motel pops up, Tony and Frankie break the rules yet again, only this time to have a bit of fun with the already too-friendly girls in their car.

In the middle of the sexual fireworks, one of the girls pulls out a gun, and moments later, Tony and Frankie are gagged and tied. The two girls then jump in their car and disappear into the desert.

When the delivery is not made on time, Sal reaches out to his partner in Las Vegas, another mafia boss, and several hitmen are promptly dispatched to figure out what may have happened to Tony and Frankie. Meanwhile, having freed each other, Tony and Frankie pay a stranger to give them a ride to a nearby airport, where they hire a pilot to fly them over the desert so they can track down the two girls.

Directed by Lee Frost in the late 1960s, The Pick-Up is an exploitation film disguised as a crime film in which various B-listers and amateur actors do some genuinely puzzling acting. Simply put, the acting is too good, too professional for an exploitation film, especially a low-budget one, in which skin and drama are treated with equal respect. Frost, who specialized in exploitation projects, also handles the camera as a legitimate A-lister.

The unusual contrasts that materialize could have been more intriguing only if Frost had inserted them into 30-45 minutes of raw desert and urban footage, which immediately would have transformed The Pick-Up into an unforgettable piece of Americana from the 1960s. The current bits from the desert and the Los Angeles highway system are quite good, but they are not enough to initiate the transformation.

The best material is the sleaziest material. It supercharges The Pick-Up with a dangerous authentic energy which, oddly, seems right for a crime film dominated by mafiosi who would do anything for money. Also, the low-budget quality of this material helps it fit in places where any other similar but better-polished material would have appeared problematic.

Something else The Pick-Up clearly lacks and could have benefited tremendously from is a cool soundtrack with lush tunes of the kind Ry Cooder composed for several famous Americana films. Then again, these lush tunes would have interfered with its rawness, which is unquestionably the greatest strength of its visuals.

Severin Films’ Blu-ray release presents an exclusive new 4K restoration of The Pick-Up, sourced from the best surviving elements.

The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Pick-Up arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

Severin Films' Blu-ray release presents an exclusive new 4K restoration of The Pick-Up, sourced from the best surviving elements. The 4K restoration and its presentation are rather impressive, making it easy to declare that The Pick-Up has never looked as strong and convincing as it does on this release. Indeed, while there are a few bits of footage with obvious density fluctuations, delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to excellent. The grayscale is managed very well, too. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections, such as degraining, sharpening, or contrast boosting. Ideally, grain exposure should be slightly better, enabling better density levels as well. However, it is still very nice and surprisingly even, so on a large screen, all visuals boast strong organic qualities. Lastly, the entire film looks very healthy, too. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

All exchanges are clear and easy to follow. However, there is hardly any notable dynamic activity. Even during the action footage, which is quite modest, dynamic contrasts remain underwhelming. Obviously, this is how the soundtrack was finalized, and these are limitations that the lossless track replicates. There are no serious age-related anomalies. In a few places, some small enhancement tweaks can be introduced to strengthen fullness and roundness, but the dynamic potency of the audio will remain the same.

The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Sirens on the Road: Post-Noir Vision and Beatnik Glory in The Pick-Up - this exclusive new video essay was created by critic and filmmaker Stephen Broomer. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Photo Gallery/Commentary - presented here is an excerpt from a conversation between exploitation icon David F. Friedman and Something Weird Video creator Mike Vraney. The audio plays over a photo gallery of promotional materials for The Pick-Up. The full conversation is available on Severin Films' release of Hot Spur. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a fully restored trailer for The Pick-Up. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

The Pick-Up Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While not in the same league with Private Property, another independent gem from the 1960s, The Pick-Up has the same fearless attitude and noirish genes. However, it does not take long before it becomes obvious that The Pick-Up wants to impress some of the folks who spent their hard-earned dollars to see Joe Sarno's films. This is what makes it different. I liked it a lot. Had it incorporated an additional 30-45 minutes of raw desert and urban footage, especially from Las Vegas and Los Angeles, it would have been an incredible piece of Americana. Severin Films' release presents an exclusive new 4K restoration of The Pick-Up, sourced from the best surviving elements. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.