The Big Shakedown
“A New Type of Racket Exposed! In This Thrilling Underworld Drama”
Synopsis
Former bootlegger Dutch Barnes pressures neighborhood druggist Jimmy Morrell into making cut-rate knockoff toiletry, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.
Top Cast
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Charles Farrell
Jimmy Morrell
Bette Davis
Norma Nelson
Ricardo Cortez
Dutch Barnes
Glenda Farrell
Lily 'Lil' Duran
Allen Jenkins
Lefty
Henry O'Neill
Mr. Sheffner
Dewey Robinson
Slim
John Wray
Higgins
Philip Faversham
John
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Regan
Renee Whitney
Mae LaRue
G. Pat Collins
Gyp
Adrian Morris
Trigger
Ben Hendricks Jr.
Spike
George Cooper
Shorty
Oscar Apfel
Digitalis Doctor (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
District Attorney (uncredited)
Alphonse Ethier
Norma's Doctor (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
January 6, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Francis Dillon
- Screenplay & Story
- Niven Busch, Rian James
- Original Score
- Bernhard Kaun
- Original Title
- The Big Shakedown
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 1m
- Production Studios
- First National Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Francis Dillon
Niven Busch, Rian James, Samuel G. Engel
Bernhard Kaun
Sidney Hickox
James Gibbon, Thomas Richards
Samuel Bischoff
Department Leadership Roster
Niven Busch
Screenplay
John Francis Dillon
Director
Rian James
Screenplay
Bernhard Kaun
Original Music Composer
James Gibbon
Editor
Thomas Richards
Editor
Sidney Hickox
Director of Photography
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Samuel Bischoff
Producer
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 The Big Shakedown.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Big Shakedown.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Shakedown
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Big Shakedown about?
Former bootlegger Dutch Barnes pressures neighborhood druggist Jimmy Morrell into making cut-rate knockoff toiletry, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.
Who directed The Big Shakedown?
The Big Shakedown was directed by John Francis Dillon.
Who stars in The Big Shakedown?
The principal cast of The Big Shakedown includes Charles Farrell, Bette Davis, Ricardo Cortez, Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins.
When was The Big Shakedown released and how long is it?
The Big Shakedown was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 1m.
Who composed the musical score for The Big Shakedown?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Big Shakedown was composed by Bernhard Kaun.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Big Shakedown?
The Big Shakedown holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).