Shamus (1973)

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

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Although the "87th Precinct" series of novels by author Evan Hunter (writing as "Ed McBain") have sold millions of copies since the first one appeared in the late 1950s, and still sell well today, this is one of only a relative handful of theatrical films - not counting a few made-for-TV movies and a TV series in the 1960s - to have been made from them.

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)

OK, But Not One Of Burt's More Memorable Films

Although this was a fast-paced pretty interesting crime story, it was not memorable, which is probably one reason there are so few reviews here.

Burt Reynolds was perfect for '70s film world of film in which just about anything was shown or heard now that all the restrictions were removed. Burt, as he did in this film, would sleep with any girl that came along. In one scene, Reynolds enters a bookstore, sees the clerk has a "nice pair of boobs," so they have sex immediately right at the store. Only in the sleazy '70s of Hollywood! (Or in most men's dreams.)

Actually, Burt excelled in films that combined action and humor, which this has but not enough to make this one of more-remembered movies. However, it does have very little nudity despite the above paragraph and no blasphemy. The best part of the movies might be the final action scene which provides two laugh-out- loud scenes.