The Big Shakedown (1934)

Racketeers flood the market with counterfeit cosmetics and drugs, causing some tragedies.

Director:

John Francis Dillon

Writers:

Niven Busch (screenplay), Rian James (screenplay),

Stars:

Charles Farrell, Bette Davis, Ricardo Cortez

Cast

Complete credited cast:
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, the New Salesman
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Regan, the Bartender
Renee Whitney	...	Mae LaRue
G. Pat Collins	...	Gyp (as George Pat Collins)
Adrian Morris	...	Trigger
Ben Hendricks Jr.	...	Spike (as Ben Hendricks)
George Cooper	...	Shorty

Storyline

Former bootlegger Nick Barnes pressures neighborhood druggist Jimmy Morrell into making cut-rate drugs. The money makes it possible for Jimmy to marry Norma Frank, a pharmacy clerk. Expecting a baby, she wants Jimmy to quit the racket. Beaten by the mob, Jimmy works on, diluting the medications still further. Norma is rushed to the hospital for a premature delivery and given bogus medication.

---

Plot Keywords:

drugs | digitalis | new york | reference to mae west | con artist | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drogas Infernais

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Mae LaRue: [Bursting in on Dutch and Lil in Dutch's office] I told you he was in!
[Sizing up the situation]
Mae LaRue: Hello, lover.
Dutch Barnes: [Straightening his tie nervously] Hello, Mae.
Lily 'Lil' Duran: Hello Mae? You bet he's in; he's in my hair.
[turning to Dutch]
Lily 'Lil' Duran: Why you double-crossing, two-timing slug. So that's why you want to send me to Europe, huh?
Dutch Barnes: Now wait a minute, honey, wait a minute.
Lily 'Lil' Duran: Oh, wait a minute - breezin' me off so you can play post office with this queen. What gutter'dja pick her out of?
Mae LaRue: [...]

---

Connections

Referenced in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008)

---

Soundtracks

"From Me to You"
(uncredited)
Written by Fabian Andre, Wayne King and Nat Conney
Played on piano at Regan's bar

User Reviews

Bad early Davis

It was films like this that caused Bette Davis to flee to England in an attempt to break her Hollywood contract. During the early '30s, she was forced into quickies with weak stories, bland co-stars and mediocre directors and was never given much chance to utilize her talents as a superb actress. She is co-starred here with Charles Farrell, who was a superstar of the silents but didn't seem to click in talkies. (He went on the gain fame on television in "My Little Margie" and personal fame as the mayor of Palm Springs). Ricardo Cortez plays his usual role as a gangster, this time utilizing Farrell's training as a pharmacists to black market bogus drugs. They start with toothpaste!!!!.....but soon move on to more dangerous territory. Frankly, I found the premise just a bit ridiculous and the acting even more so. Miss Davis looks like she would rather be somewhere else and has little to do. Cortez really overdoes it and Farrell is just downright bad. If you like Bette Davis, then you might want to see this film if for no other reason than to get a glimpse of what low grade junk assignments she had to put up with early in her career. Otherwise, it's not worth it.