The Big Shakedown (1934): cast, story & where to watch
1934 · Film · ★ 5.4
Released in 1934, The Big Shakedown is a drama and crime film directed by John Francis Dillon, running about 61 minutes. “A New Type of Racket Exposed! In This Thrilling Underworld Drama” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Former bootlegger Dutch Barnes pressures neighborhood druggist Jimmy Morrell into making cut-rate knockoff toiletry, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.
Who’s in it. The Big Shakedown stars Charles Farrell as Jimmy Morrell, Bette Davis as Norma Nelson, Ricardo Cortez as Dutch Barnes and Glenda Farrell as Lily 'Lil' Duran, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, The Big Shakedown has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Big Shakedown page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Big Shakedown tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Big Shakedown (1934)?
- In US, The Big Shakedown is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Big Shakedown worth watching?
- The Big Shakedown holds an audience score of 5.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Big Shakedown?
- The Big Shakedown stars Charles Farrell, Bette Davis, Ricardo Cortez, Glenda Farrell and Allen Jenkins.
- When was The Big Shakedown released?
- The Big Shakedown was released in 1934, with a runtime of about 61 minutes.