Shakedown
“His camera Was More Deadly Than A Gangster's Gun!”
Synopsis
Jack Early is a photographer who will stop at nothing to climb his way to the very top of the success ladder. On the strength of his sheer tenacity, he gets a job with a major newspaper, and it's not long before he's made a name for himself by charming a notorious crime boss, Nick Palmer, into allowing himself to be photographed. Palmer takes him under his wing, but Early decides to bite the hand that feeds him and sets Palmer and another crime boss, Colton, against one another.
Top Cast
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Howard Duff
Jack Early
Brian Donlevy
Nick Palmer
Peggy Dow
Ellen Bennett
Lawrence Tierney
Harry Colton
Bruce Bennett
David Glover
Anne Vernon
Nita Palmer
Jack Reitzen
Joe Downing
Peter Virgo
Roy
Charles Sherlock
Sam
Elsie Baker
Palmer's Maid (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks
Photographer (uncredited)
Douglas Carter
Photographer (uncredited)
Peggie Castle
Coat-Check Girl at Bay View Club (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Chester Conklin
Chet (uncredited)
Bert Davidson
Photographer (uncredited)
Joe Dougherty
Man (uncredited)
Roy Engel
Waiter Captain (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 1, 1950
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph Pevney
- Screenplay & Story
- Alfred Lewis Levitt, Martin Goldsmith
- Original Score
- Daniele Amfitheatrof, Milton Rosen, Frank Skinner, Leith Stevens, Hans J. Salter, Miklós Rózsa
- Original Title
- Shakedown
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Production Studios
- Universal International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph Pevney
Alfred Lewis Levitt, Martin Goldsmith, Nat Dallinger, Don Martin
Daniele Amfitheatrof, Milton Rosen, Frank Skinner, Leith Stevens, Hans J. Salter, Miklós Rózsa
Irving Glassberg
Milton Carruth
Ted Richmond
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph Pevney
Director
Irving Glassberg
Director of Photography
Milton Carruth
Editor
Ted Richmond
Producer
Alfred Lewis Levitt
Screenplay
Martin Goldsmith
Screenplay
Yvonne Wood
Costume Design
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
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shakedown.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shakedown.
Gangster
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Classic-era film noir, 1940 to 1959.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shakedown
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shakedown about?
Jack Early is a photographer who will stop at nothing to climb his way to the very top of the success ladder. On the strength of his sheer tenacity, he gets a job with a major newspaper, and it's not long before he's made a name for himself by charming a notorious crime boss, Nick Palmer, into allowing himself to be photographed. Palmer takes him under his wing, but Early decides to bite the hand that feeds him and sets Palmer and another crime boss, Colton, against one another.
Who directed Shakedown?
Shakedown was directed by Joseph Pevney.
Who stars in Shakedown?
The principal cast of Shakedown includes Howard Duff, Brian Donlevy, Peggy Dow, Lawrence Tierney, Bruce Bennett.
When was Shakedown released and how long is it?
Shakedown was released in 1950 with a total runtime of 1h 20m.
Who composed the musical score for Shakedown?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shakedown was composed by Daniele Amfitheatrof, Milton Rosen, Frank Skinner, Leith Stevens, Hans J. Salter, Miklós Rózsa.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shakedown?
Shakedown holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).