Shoot the Works
“Yowsah! THE MOSTA OF THE BESTA!”
Synopsis
The story of seedy sideshow barker Nicky, who uses everyone he meets to get ahead. Nicky isn't even above exploiting his singing sweetheart Lily to suit his purposes, but this time it is he who ends up the loser -- at least until he gets wise to himself.
Top Cast
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Jack Oakie
Nicky Nelson
Ben Bernie
Joe Davis
Dorothy Dell
Lily Raquel
Alison Skipworth
The Countess
Roscoe Karns
Sailor Burke
Arline Judge
Jackie Donovan
William Frawley
Larry Hale
Lew Cody
Axel Hanratty
Paul Cavanagh
Alvin Ritchie
Monte Vandergrift
Man from Board of Health
Jill Dennett
Wanda
Lee Kohlmar
Prof. Jonas
Tony Merlo
Headwaiter
Ben Taggart
Detective
Charles McAvoy
Cop
Fred Lawrence
Crooner (as Frank Prince)
Ann Sheridan
Hanratty's Secretary (uncredited)
Gwenllian Gill
Young Lady Dancing (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 18, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wesley Ruggles
- Screenplay & Story
- Claude Binyon, Howard J. Green
- Original Title
- Shoot the Works
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 4m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wesley Ruggles
Claude Binyon, Howard J. Green, Gene Fowler, Ben Hecht
Leo Tover
Albert Lewis, Adolph Zukor
Department Leadership Roster
Claude Binyon
Screenplay
Howard J. Green
Screenplay
Wesley Ruggles
Director
Leo Tover
Director of Photography
Albert Lewis
Producer
Adolph Zukor
Producer
Ben Hecht
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shoot the Works.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shoot the Works
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shoot the Works about?
The story of seedy sideshow barker Nicky, who uses everyone he meets to get ahead. Nicky isn't even above exploiting his singing sweetheart Lily to suit his purposes, but this time it is he who ends up the loser -- at least until he gets wise to himself.
Who directed Shoot the Works?
Shoot the Works was directed by Wesley Ruggles.
Who stars in Shoot the Works?
The principal cast of Shoot the Works includes Jack Oakie, Ben Bernie, Dorothy Dell, Alison Skipworth, Roscoe Karns.
When was Shoot the Works released and how long is it?
Shoot the Works was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 4m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shoot the Works?
Shoot the Works holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).