The Shakedown ** (1960, Terence Morgan, Hazel Court, Donald Pleasence, Bill Owen, Robert Beatty, Harry H Corbett) – Classic Movie Review 12,207

‘Models were the bait for BLACKMAIL!’

Director John Lemont’s 1960 British crime thriller The Shakedown stars Terence Morgan, Hazel Court, Donald Pleasence, Bill Owen, Robert Beatty, and Harry H Corbett.

Hazel Court plays a pretty policewoman who is sent in undercover as a model by a police inspector (Beatty) to infiltrate a London porn and blackmail racket being run by ex-con Augie Cortona (Terence Morgan), also being hounded by a gang rival boss (Harry H Corbett) who took over his old vice racket while he was in prison. Donald Pleasence plays photographer Jessel, who takes the photos and runs the model agency.

The Shakedown reinterpretation of the 1950 American film Shakedown, but with early 60s-style titillation substituted for the dark atmosphere of the original. The locations are pleasingly atmospheric and downbeat, but the central characters lack clear definition in the poorly plotted script.

But it is not bad as an antique British crime thriller, with its taut direction and air of realism, though even the quality acting from a strong cast could not save this venture from vanishing into obscurity.

Also in the cast are Gene Anderson, Eddie Byrne, John Salew, Georgina Cookson, Joan Haythorne, Sheila Buxton, Jack Lambert, Paul Whitson-Jones, Timothy Bateson, Edward Judd, Angela Douglas as Model, Patricia Haines as Modelling Student, Leila Williams and Jackie Collins ]Lynn Curtis] as Rita.

Film debuts of Angela Douglas, Patricia Haines and Leila Williams.

Patricia Haines was married to Michael Caine from 1955 to 1958, divorced. They met in repertory, married and had a daughter, Nikki. She later married actor Bernard Kay in 1963 till her death on 25 February 1977.

Sheila Buxton has a guest star credit.

Jackie Collins was so fed up with being called Joan Collins’s sister that she used the name Lynn Curtis for the film.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,207

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