Themes: Private Eyes, Murder Investigations, Dishonor Among Thieves
Main Cast: Tony Amato Jr., John Glover, Jimmy Kelly, Lou Martell, Burt Reynolds, Dyan Cannon, John Ryan, Joe Santos, Georgio Tozzi
Release Year: 1973
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This detective-themed action-adventure film spoofs The Big Sleep, which was based on the novel by Raymond Chandler. Burt Reynolds plays McCoy, a hard-nosed private detective. The story has more tangles than a bowl of spaghetti, but it begins when McCoy is called to the house of Hume (Ron Weyand), an eccentric diamond dealer, and is given the task of recovering some stolen gems. McCoy is beaten by a gang of thugs to warn him off the job, and this lets him know that he's onto something really big. By the end of the film, McCoy will have hooked up with a gorgeous blonde (Dyan Cannon), driven a tank through a warehouse wall, and delivered numerous crooks to the police. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Review
Shamus is supposedly based upon The Big Sleep, but whether it's supposed to be a remake, a parody, or an homage is anybody's guess -- which is indicative of Shamus' problems. The writer and director don't really seem to know what they want here, so some of Shamus is straight and some of it is satirical and some of it is simply stolen, and the result is a film with no distinct personality or point. Making a good private eye flick is trickier than it looks; in order for a "traditional" one to work, the "shamus" is the moral center of an immoral world. McCoy is a little too quick to choke people with chains (and seems to enjoy it too much) to fulfill this function, and the immorality surrounding him is a tad superficial -- it's played a bit too much for laughs or easy cynicism, making it seem less sinister or dangerous than it needs to be. In the title role, Burt Reynolds tries hard and, while he can't compare to Humphrey Bogart, he uses his easy charm and rough edges to very good effect. Dyan Cannon also does fairly well, although she crosses the line into shrill a tad too often, and Giorgio Tozzi is surprisingly good. Buzz Kulik's direction is fast-paced and on occasion -- such as the chase between buildings -- extremely effective. On the whole, Shamus doesn't work, but fans of Reynolds will certainly enjoy it. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Ron Weyand - E.J. Hume; Bert Bertram - Doorman; Larry Block - Springy; Beeson Carroll - Bolton; Alisha Fontaine - Hatcheck Girl; John Glover - Johnnie; Merwin Goldsmith - Schnook; Captain Haggerty - Handler; Tommy Lane - Tait; Ric Mancini - Angie; Melody Santangelo - 1st Woman; Irving Selbst - Heavy; Alex Wilson - Felix; Kevin Conway - The Kid; Alex Stevens - Knifer; Glenn Wilder - Thug #1; Marshall Anker - Dealer; Steve Vignari - Hardnose; Kathy Frye - Bookstore Girl; Mickey Freeman - Pimp; Charlie Picerni - Thug; Frank Sivero - Bookie; Tony Amato Jr. - Willie; Jimmy Kelly - Grifter; Lou Martell - Rock
Credit
Philip Rosenberg - Art Director, Frank Thompson - Costume Designer, Ted Zachary - First Assistant Director, Buzz Kulik - Director, Walter Thompson - Editor, Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score), Vincent Callaghan - Makeup, Victor J. Kemper - Cinematographer, Robert M. Weitman - Producer, Edward Stewart - Set Designer, Christopher Newman - Sound/Sound Designer, Glenn Wilder - Stunts, Barry Beckerman - Screenwriter
