Directed by:
Joseph PevneyCinematography:
Irving GlassbergCast:
Howard Duff, Brian Donlevy, Peggy Dow, Lawrence Tierney, Bruce Bennett, Anne Vernon, Rock Hudson, Peggie Castle, Joseph Pevney, Chester Conklin (more)Plots(1)
If there was a poll for the most villainous character in film noir, one of the hot candidates to win would be journalist Jack Early from Shakedown. Played by Howard Duff, he’s a man with no scruples and no morals, who will stop at nothing in his quest to become a leading reportage photographer. In order to achieve his professional goal and get a good picture, he literally goes over dead bodies – he lets people pose in front of the camera lens in imminent danger of their lives and cold-bloodedly watches a murder. This remarkable contribution to the journalistic noir cycle, set like many noirs in San Francisco, was directed by actor Joseph Pevney in his directorial debut. Rather than a condemnation of media sensationalism, Shakedown can be read as an indictment of materialism and consumerism – for it reads like an anamnesis of a man who has been bound by his desire to fulfill the American Dream. (Noir Film Festival)
(more)Cinematheque
User | Format | Languages | Added | Note |
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majo25 | digital copy | 18/07/2023 | ||
ad142 | digital copy | 06/12/2022 | ||
El Indio | Other | 12/04/2022 | ||
carlos 2010 | Blu-ray | 02/04/2022 |