Shakedown (1950)

Shakedown is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Howard Duff, Brian Donlevy, Peggy Dow, Lawrence Tierney, Bruce Bennett and Anne Vernon.

Director – Joseph Pevney

Writers – Martin Goldsmith (screenplay), Alfred Lewis Levitt (screenplay), Don Martin (story)

Cast –
Howard Duff as Jack Early
Brian Donlevy as Nick Palmer
Peggy Dow as Ellen Bennett
Lawrence Tierney as Colton
Bruce Bennett as David Glover
Anne Vernon as Nita Palmer (as Ann Vernon)
Stapleton Kent as City Editor
Peter Virgo as Roy
Charles Sherlock as Sam
Rock Hudson as Nightclub Doorman (uncredited)

Watch “Shakedown” (1950)

Plot

Unscrupulous newspaper photographer Jack Early is sent to take a picture of racketeer Nick Palmer, who doesn’t like to be photographed. Palmer takes a liking to Early and asks him to frame his henchman Colton, but Early double-crosses Palmer and informs Colton that his boss had planned to frame him. Shortly afterward, Palmer is killed by a car bomb and Early becomes famous for snapping a photo of the event. Eventually Early is killed by Colton but he manages to take a picture of his murderer in the act.