Manhattan Shakedown
Cast & Crew
Leon Barsha
John Gallaudet
Rosalind Keith
George Mckay
Reginald Hincks
Bob Rideout
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Jerry Tracy, a noted columnist and radio broadcaster, is convinced that prominent Park Avenue psychiatrist Andrew Stoner is a blackmailer. When Jerry's friend, Al Redman, becomes the latest victim, Jerry uses his broadcast to publicly accuse the doctor of blackmail and accuse Stoner's daughter Gloria of social climbing with playboy Hadley Brown. Although Jerry is certain that the doctor is using hypnosis to extract secrets from his patients, he is unable to prove that it is Stoner who is demanding payment from Redman in order to keep silent about the money the bank cashier had stolen and then replaced in order to pay for his sick wife's surgery. Redman has been instructed to make his payments at a brownstone in Greenwich Village, but becuase the blackmailer wears a mask, he is unable to identify him. Jerry's accusations anger Gloria, who threatens to kill the broadcaster. That night, Jerry goes to the brownstone where he becomes the target of Mike Orrell, a hired killer. When Orrell misses, Jerry tails him to a bar and asks him if Gloria hired him, but Orrell refuses to answer. To find out more information, Jerry visits Orrell's sister Peggy, who abhors her brother's profession and has asked Stoner to cure him. While talking to Peggy, a shot rings out and nearly misses the girl. Jerry then realizes that someone is trying to frame him for Peggy's shooting, thus provoking Orrell to revenge. Jerry and Peggy convince Orrell that someone has set them up, and that night, they return to the brownstone. As Jerry descends into the cellar, he comes face to face with the masked figure, who captures both him and Orrell. Freed by Peggy, who has followed them, Orrell and Jerry shoot it out with the masked man. In the ensuing hail of gunfire, Orrell and the blackmailer perish, leaving Jerry to unmask the figure, who is none other than Hadley Brown. Jerry then makes a public apology to Dr. Stoner and his daughter.
Director
Leon Barsha
Cast
John Gallaudet
Rosalind Keith
George Mckay
Reginald Hincks
Bob Rideout
Phyllis Claire
Donald Douglas
Michael Heppell
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this picture was Manhattan Whirlwind. Modern sources add Grant MacDonald (Cab driver), John Caird (Policeman), and James McGrath (Bartender) to the cast, and list the following additional crew members: Columbia supv Jack Fier, Assistant Director George Rhein, Sound Herbert Eicke, Asst sd Jack Haynes, and Photography William Beckway.
