THE BIG SHAKEDOWN (First National Pictures, 1934), directed by John Francis Dillon, is not a story about the San Francisco earthquake. It's a minor crime drama taken from a story "Cut Rate" by Sam Engels dealing with a couple of business partners from opposite sides. Not as famous as other films of this nature, but notable for an early screen appearance of Bette Davis, going on three years as a contract player with another three years to go for super stardom status and out of movie quickies such as this. Second billed under Charles Farrell, best known for his twelve movies opposite Janet Gaynor for Fox Films (1927-1934), with career declining as quickly as it had risen, having much more to do here than Davis.
Opening with character introduction, the story begins with the daily routine inside a neighborhood drug store: Norma Nelson (Bette Davis), a druggist copes with customers along with its owner, Jimmy Morrell (Charles Farrell), a chemist whom she loves and hopes to marry. Though Jimmy is satisfied with his drug store business, it's Norma who feels he could do a whole lot better. Things start to improve for Jimmy with the arrival of "Dutch" Barnes (Ricardo Cortez), a racketeer who had made a fortune bootlegging beer, finding himself out of business after the repeal of Prohibition. Coming to the drug store for a headache power which he does not have, Barnes is given a substitute Jimmy has made himself that is just as good. After Barnes tests toothpaste products against those made by Jimmy with his mob, "Lefty" (Allen Jenkins); "Slim" (Dewey Robinson); "Trigger" (Adrian Morris) and "Shorty" (George Cooper), not being able to tell the difference, both Barnes and Jimmy go into business for a better career. Once Jimmy discovers he's actually selling counterfeit patent medicines and putting manufacturers out of business, he finds that Barnes refuses to release Jimmy from his obligation to him.
The supporting cast includes Glenda Farrell (Lil Durand); Henry O'Neill (Sheffner); Renee Whitney (May LaRue); Robert Emmett O'Connor (Regan, the Bartender) and Samuel S. Hinds (Mr. Kophlsadt). Though a straight dramatic story, Sidney Miller adds some humor as a Jewish boy taking notes of all his drug store expenses.
Although THE BIG SHAKEDOWN crams many situations into its brief 61 minutes, results are somewhat satisfying. With Farrell and Cortez carrying on much of the plot, it offers Davis nothing in regards of challenging range. Ricardo Cortez is good yet typical as the bad guy, a role in which he excels, though never ranged in the high degree of a Humphrey Bogart. Like Bogey, Cortez could excel in playing a good-natured hero just as well (check out his underrated performance in 1932s SYMPHONY OF SIX MILLION). Glenda Farrell (no relation to Charles) breaks away from her wisecracking character as Cortez's girl, only to face some consequences for her actions.
Never distributed on video cassette, THE BIG SHAKEDOWN began to gain some cable television recognition starting on Turner Network Television (TNT) in 1989 before becoming a permanent fixture on Turner Classic Movies starting in 1994 and availability on DVD. Although the drama offers no great shakes, THE BIG SHAKEDOWN is worthy viewing more for its Warner Brothers stock players, especially a young Bette Davis. (**1/2)
