Shakedown (1988) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Shakedown takes place primarily in New York City, with most of the action unfolding in Manhattan. Key locations include the city's public institutions, bustling streets, Central Park, and LaGuardia Airport. The urban setting is integral to the film’s gritty tone and themes of corruption and pursuit of justice.

• new york city
• manhattan
• setting
• locations
• central park
• laguardia airport

The film is set in the late 1980s, specifically within New York City's gritty crime climate of that decade. This era was marked by widespread drug trade, police corruption, and a turbulent relationship between law enforcement and the communities they served. The 1980s backdrop enhances the film’s themes of institutional decay and the struggle for truth.

• 1980s
• time period
• era
• new york city
• 1980s crime

The film centers on Roland Dalton and Richie Marks fighting against a web of dirty cops and drug networks to expose the truth. The trial scene and taped evidence become tests of the legal system's integrity. The narrative shows how power can bend truth, yet highlights determined individuals who strive to reveal it despite systemic corruption.

• justice
• corruption
• truth
• police corruption
• legal system

Roland Dalton is a burned-out Manhattan public defender played by Peter Weller. He pursues the truth behind a high-profile shooting with a methodical, weary approach. Driven by a fragile sense of justice, he's willing to bend rules to expose corruption. His complicated personal life, including an affair with Susan Cantrell, further strains his already tense world.

• roland dalton
• peter weller
• public defender
• protagonist

Richie Marks is a renegade NYPD narcotics detective played by Sam Elliott who operates on the edge of the law. He partners with Roland to root out dirty cops and the drug network, driven by a stubborn commitment to the truth. His blunt, fearless style often clashes with standard police procedure but proves crucial to uncovering the conspiracy.

• richie marks
• sam elliott
• nypd detective
• narcotics
• undercover

A crucial tape hidden in an evidence locker becomes the key to unlocking the conspiracy. Roland and Richie navigate cover-ups, procedural obstacles, and escalating danger to bring hidden facts to light. The pursuit is a relentless race against corrupt interests that want key evidence buried.

• truth
• secrecy
• evidence
• conspiracy
• cover-up

Susan Cantrell is a prosecutor and Roland's former lover, played by Patricia Charcombear. She re-enters the case with intelligence and ambition, navigating both professional goals and personal history. Her character represents the complex intersection of ambition, integrity, and personal relationships within a corrupt system.

• susan cantrell
• patricia charbonneau
• prosecutor
• love interest

Professional bonds are strained by personal history as Roland rekindles his affair with Susan Cantrell. The investigation tests loyalties among friends, lovers, and colleagues, revealing how personal desire can complicate public duty. Betrayals fuel the tension and push characters toward risky choices that blend romance, ambition, and integrity.

• loyalty
• betrayal
• romance
• relationships
• affair

A public defender fights to defend a case that could topple a corrupt system. Characters balance professional duty with personal risk, showing how desperation can drive bold, dangerous moves. Courtroom rhetoric and street-level persistence converge as Roland and his allies press for accountability, framing justice as a fragile achievement won through grit.

• duty
• desperation
• public defender
• courtroom
• accountability

Nicky 'N.C.' Carr is a drug lord played by Antonio Fargas who heads the criminal operation behind the conspiracy. He uses his network to shield dirty cops from accountability, embodying the brutal reach of organized crime that taints both investigations and court proceedings. His presence represents the intersection of criminal enterprise and institutional corruption.

• nicky carr
• n.c. carr
• antonio fargas
• drug lord
• crime boss

The New York City setting is essential to the film's atmosphere and themes. Manhattan's courts, police stations, and crowded avenues define the story's rhythm and stakes. Central Park provides a tense backdrop for confrontations, while LaGuardia Airport sequences amplify urgency and pursuit. The city's reputation for both opportunity and decay mirrors the film's exploration of corruption and justice.

• new york
• manhattan
• urban setting
• city landmarks
• crime drama