Shamus (1973)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writer:

Barry Beckerman (written by)

Release Date:

5 February 1973 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

SHAMUS a pool-shooting, card-playing, broad-chasing, private eye...cross him, and he'll blow your head off!

Plot:

New York private eye Shamus McCoy likes girls, drink and gambling, but by the look of his flat business can't be too hot...

Plot Keywords:

Diamond | Flamethrower | Cat | Private Detective | Character Name In Title

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Shamus McCoy
Dyan Cannon	...	Alexis Montaigne
John P. Ryan	...	Hardcore
Joe Santos	...	Lieutenant Promuto
Giorgio Tozzi	...	Dottore
Ron Weyand	...	E.J. Hume
Larry Block	...	Springy
Beeson Carroll	...	Bolton
Kevin Conway	...	The Kid
Kay Frye	...	Bookstore Girl
John Glover	...	Johnnie
Merwin Goldsmith	...	Schnook
Melody Santangello	...	Alice
Irving Selbst	...	Heavy
Alex Wilson	...	Felix Montaigne

Also Known As:

Passion for Danger

Runtime:

106 min | Norway:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1973) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1990) | Iceland:16 | Norway:16 | UK:18 | USA:PG (certificate #23378)

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

There is a shot in the movie where Burt Reynolds grabs a tree branch during a chase scene, it breaks and he falls to the ground. That was not planned. The branch broke accidentally during filming and the footage looked so good, they kept it in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When McCoy enters the shipping room at the warehouse, the border pattern on the front of the glass panel does not match that seen through from the rear. The two verticals over the PP in SHIPPING should be visible through the frosted glass, but there is a horizontal join instead.

Movie Connections:

References The Big Sleep (1946)

Action and thrills with Reynolds doing his take on 70's private eye cool.

Shamus leaves you in no doubt who the star is right from the opening credits, for those who enjoy private eye movies this one is fun from beginning to end. Plenty of action and a murder to solve. The wardrobe dates a bit, but the action sequences are great and the musical score adds to the films "Cool." Who better to do 70's cool than Burt. Dyan Cannon is infectious and there's a good support cast along for the ride. It's a basic enough private eye plot with twists and turns, really banking on it's popular leads. Plenty of good lines and attitude. That said, John P. Ryan is full speed ahead as a corrupt Lt. Col.(unfortunately his characters name always makes me laugh.) Another quick note would be the stake out from the book shop, an update of the sequence from the Big sleep. The film is definitely worth a look. For Reynolds' fans it's a must.