''The Shakedown'' is a 1959 black and white British

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by John Lemont, starring Terence Morgan, Hazel Court, and

Donald Pleasence Donald Henry Pleasence (; 5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before transitioning into a screen career, where he played numerous supporting and character roles including RAF ...

. It was filmed in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. The film was banned in

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...

(known there as ''Häväistyksen kauppiaat'').

Plot

Augustus ("Augie") Cortona, a recently released convict, opens up a modelling school and photographic studio that serves as a front for a service enabling amateurs to take erotic photographs, while blackmailing some of the participants by taking pictures through a two-way mirror of their participation. Meanwhile, a longstanding feud with a rival gangster who took over his operation while he was imprisoned continues. Scotland Yard decide to investigate Cortona by sending an officer, Mildred Eyde, (Hazel Court), to operate undercover by enrolling as a student model. Cortona is smitten by Eyde and begins to woo her. Eyde's cover is blown when Spettigue is informed that she is a policewoman by a fellow con who recognizes her. Police raid the studio in order to rescue her. Cortona tries to flee but is shot by a waiting blackmail victim who has been pushed too far by repeated threats of exposure and demands for ever more money. As Cortona is dying, despite her feelings of moral disgust, Mildred's pity kneels down, and tries to comfort him. But with his last breath, Cortona repulses her, and says "You're a Bitch". Mildred is led away, appalled.

Cast

* Terence Morgan as Augie Cortona * Hazel Court as Mildred Eyde *

as Jessel Brown * Bill Owen as David Spettigue * Robert Beatty as Chief Inspector Bob Jarvis * Harry H. Corbett as Gollar *

Gene Anderson Gene Anderson may refer to: * Gene Anderson (actress) (1931–1965), British actress * Gene Anderson (basketball) (1917–1999), American professional basketball player * Gene Anderson (wrestler) Eugene Avon Anderson (October 4, 1939 � ...

as Zena *

Eddie Byrne Eddie Byrne (31 January 1911 – 21 August 1981) was an Irish actor. Career His stage work included many appearances with Dublin's Abbey Theatre, and also work with the National Theatre in London. Outside Ireland he is probably best known ...

as George, Barman * John Salew as John Arnold * Georgina Cookson as Miss Firbank * Linda Castle as Sylvia * Jackie Collins as Rita Mason (credited as Lynn Curtis) * Joan Haythorne as Miss Ogilvie * Sheila Buxton as Nadia * Dorinda Stevens as Grace * Jack Lambert as Sergeant Kershaw *

Charles Lamb Charles Lamb (10 February 1775 – 27 December 1834) was an English essayist, poet, and antiquarian, best known for his '' Essays of Elia'' and for the children's book ''Tales from Shakespeare'', co-authored with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764– ...

as Pinza * Edward Judd as Bernie *

Larry Taylor Samuel Lawrence Taylor (June 26, 1942 – August 19, 2019) was an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Le ...

as Second Thug * Angela Douglas as Model * Arthur Lovegrove as Barman * Paul Whitsun-Jones as Fat Drinker * Diana Chesney as Purple Woman * Timothy Bateson as Estate Agent * Neal Arden as Harry Bowers

Production

The film was made at Twickenham Film Studios, and on location. A collection of location stills and corresponding contemporary photographs is hosted at reelstreets.com.

Critical reception

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program TV listings, listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine, TV Guide Mag ...

'' wrote: "the performances are all strong and believable, and fast-paced direction helps to gloss over some of the inadequacies in the predictable script."

External links

References

1959 films British black-and-white films 1959 crime drama films British crime drama films Films directed by John Lemont 1950s English-language films 1950s British films {{1950s-UK-film-stub