Shakedown (1988)

A legal attorney and renegade cop team up to stop a corrupt cop.

Director:

James Glickenhaus

Writer:

James Glickenhaus

Stars:

Peter Weller, Sam Elliott, Richard Brooks

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Brooks	...	Michael Jones
Jude Ciccolella	...	Patrick O'Leary
George Loros	...	Officer Varelli
Thomas G. Waites	...	Officer Kelly (as Tom Waites)
Daryl Edwards	...	Dr. Watson
Jos Laniado	...	Ruben
Peter Weller	...	Roland Dalton
Blanche Baker	...	Gail Feinberger
John C. McGinley	...	Sean Phillips (as John McGinley)
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Susan Cantrell
Shirley Stoler	...	Irma
Walter Flanagan	...	Prison Guard
Walter Bobbie	...	Dean Howland
Henry Judd Baker	...	Big Leroy (as Judd Henry Baker)
Sam Elliott	...	Richie Marks

Storyline

A drug dealer shoots a corrupt police officer. Though the drug dealer admits his guilt, he pleads self-defense. His lawyer, Roland Dalton, and renegade loner NYPD narcotics agent Richie Marks, pursue evidence in his favor. They encounter difficulties from other corrupt police officers, drug dealers, and various street scum. Dalton's life is further complicated by the fact that the prosecuting attorney is a former lover.

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | female nudity | drug dealer | attorney | corrupt cop | 

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Taglines:

When the bad guys have taken over... and the good guys are the worst of all... Whatever you do, don't call the cops.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the theater scene, there are three posters for The Soldier (1982) and one for The Exterminator (1980), both of which were also directed by James Glickenhaus. When Roland and Richie step outside, the bills says that the theater was also running A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and The Hidden (1987) (the latter also featured Richard Brooks).

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Richie Marks: No, actually it's fuck you asshole!

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Alternate Versions

The film was initially rated R in Australia, but Hoyts Distribution, the local distributor, wanted the film to be rated M so it could gain a wider audience, and potentially make more money given Peter Weller's popularity, so they cut the offending scenes from all 35mm release prints. Unfortunately the same print was used for the subsequent VHS release. The cuts scenes are: The section of the scene where Rydel is in the car with his snitch and threatens to have him raped by a large convict has been cut out. The scene where Big Leroy opens fire with an Uzi outside the Deuce and cuts down bystanders has been trimmed so the body count isn't so high. The scene where the old jailer offers the yuppie in the cell a condom with his breakfast is completely removed. The court scene where the judge sets Nicky Carr's bail at $1 million dollars is cut short. The sequence where Carr's attorney's produces the million bucks from a briefcase has been cut as has Carr's interplay with Marks, who is watching. The opening scene where the dealer in the park lights up a crack pipe has been shortened by a few seconds. The death of the snitch by Big Leroy electrocuting him has been cut short by several seconds so you don't see the snitch squirm as he dies.

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Connections

References Lethal Weapon (1987)

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Soundtracks

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Written by Bob Dylan (uncredited)
Performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers

User Reviews

The best cops that money can buy ............

Completely contrived police corruption plot but Sam Elliott and Peter Weller do the best that could be expected under the circumstances. This almost seems like the roller coaster scene and the plane finale were thought up, and then connected somehow with the cartoon like script. Character development beyond Elliott and Weller is sketchy. The entire cops on the drug dealers payroll scenario is exploited way beyond what might make sense. The night shots on 42nd street are terrific, but you simply cannot take "Shakedown" seriously, and with each passing scene things deteriorate as believability flies out the window. The movie has some entertainment value, but do not expect much beyond stunt work and crashes. - MERK

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shakedown

Filming Locations:

21-69 Shore Blvd, Long Island city, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,017,800, 8 May 1988

Gross USA:

$10,068,039

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,068,039

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment, Blue Jean Cop

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min 93 min (PAL) 93 min (PAL)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1