SHAKEDOWN ON SUNSET STRIP
US, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Season Hubley, Joan Van Ark, Perry King.
Directed by Walter Grauman.
Shakedown on Sunset Strip is an efficient telemovie, focusing on crime and police corruption in Hollywood and Los Angeles 1948. It is based on a true story. Perry King is the ambitious young policeman, keen to bust people and make a name for himself. He gets caught up in the corruption, the political campaigns of the time. While he sets in motion an inquiry, he loses his job and moves to building.
There is quite a good cast including Joan Van Ark as the Hollywood madam. Season Hubley is the attractive police officer who betrays the hero.
There is an attention to recreating the style of the times as well as sets and decor. Timely in view of the '80s obsession with police corruption.
1. Interesting telemovie, police, crime, gangsters, corruption? In retrospect? A piece of Los Angeles history?
2. The re-creation of 1948, Los Angeles and Hollywood, style, sets and decor?
3. The title, the focus, the themes?
4. The voice-over by Charlie? His story and perspective? Charlie Stoker as ambitious, at work, his telling his story to the journalists? His contact with the police commissioners? The coming before the grand jury? The ups and downs of his career? His beginning the inquiry - but having to leave the police force?
5. Charlie Stoker as a person, his war experiences, separation from his wife and child? His wanting to get Brenda? Listening in, the phone taps, leading to Fuller? The courts and the threats by Brenda? Parker and his support of Stoker? The thwarting of the inquiries, Brenda going to prison, her threats and revenge? His relationship with Audrey? Living in? Urging her to make the phone call? The soliciting and the trapping of Brenda? His visits to Betty, talking things over with her? Playing with the kids? The importance of the tapes? The shots at Jack and himself in the building? The grand jury, the police and the witnesses perjuring themselves? Brenda and her testimony, accusing him of bribe-taking? His relationship with Jack and support? The deal with Parker? The investigation and his being found guilty? The fabrication of the case about the cheque? Audrey's testimony against him? His having enough, going back to his ordinary life, to Betty?
6. Jack and his help, the team, their skill in tapping and detective work?
7. Audrey, pleasant, help, her marriages, living together, the soliciting, the pressures on her from her father, the lies in court and betraying him?
8. Betty, her support and love, the truth, jealousy, her making him understand himself?
9. Brenda, tough, the prostitutes, her police protection, her threats, her losing - and her going back to jail?
10. The mayor, the commissioner, the corrupt officers? Gerber and his initial support? The change, the taking over of the case? Fuller and his corruption? Phone calls, the seizing of the files and the police selling them?
11. Los Angeles, the '40s, Parker and his cleaning up the city? The tribute to him?
12. The relevance of the film, its themes to each generation?
