Shakedown, A Slimy Photographer

We don't usually think of photographers as slimy.  In the media world, the slimeballs are the reporters, editors, and owners of the papers and networks.  Photographers? The ones that capture all those Pulitzer Award winning pics?  Are they as evil?  Does any Pulitzer winner lead with honesty and altruism?  Not that we know of, so why should these creeps with cameras get a pass in our minds?  We have one today about one of these picture takers and the sultry dames he ruins. Our feature today is 1950's "Shakedown," directed by Joseph Pevney.

Jack (Howard Duff) shows up at the City Desk of the city's newspaper wanting a job.  He's a photographer and the desk editor Ellen (Peggy Dow) is a babe. Because she's a woman she is not very good at her job and hires the handsome, seemingly impressive slimeball. Jack has a knack for taking action pictures of women jumping out of burning buildings or drivers drowning after they drive into the harbor. Only problem is, Jack told the woman to jump and told the drowning man to look helpless and beg without helping them.  Ellen falls in love with him...idiot!  Now Jack has an assignment. Do something no other newspaper in the city has been able to do. Get a picture of the enigmatic mobster, Nick (Brian Donlevy). He does, by charming Nick.  He also charms Nick's wife, Nita (Anne Vernon). Interestingly enough, Nita really loves her husband and has nothing but devotion to him.

Jack strings Ellen along all the while letting Nita know he intends to marry her.  Now Jack plots Nita's conquest by plotting Nick's demise.  Nick's demise will result in the most amazing photograph ever appearing in any newspaper, and Nita is sad.  Lying and plotting, Jack sweeps Nita off her feet.  Ellen still believes Jack loves her and breaks her engagement to a dentist.  David (Bruce Bennett), the paper's Editor-in-Chief figures out that Jack's means of securing the photographs may not be morally defensible.  Uh oh...in securing Nita, Jack has also made some very dangerous enemies.  Now Nita is in peril and Ellen is heading for ultimate heartbreak.

Will the two dames in this one smarten up and be saved from torment and humiliation...or worse?  Will Jack get what he deserves even if it is from some very evil individuals?  What will the last photograph taken in this film reveal?  This is a good one, and as much as we despise Howard Duff's character, we do fall for the plight of Nita and Ellen.  See "Shakedown" and remember, every part and individual of the newspapers and networks out there are pure slimeballs.