Shamus *** (1973, Burt Reynolds, Dyan Cannon, John P Ryan, Joe Santos) – Classic Movie Review 12,280

Burt Reynolds plays New York private eye Shamus McCoy on a case of stolen diamonds and murder, in the 1973 American private eye comedy crime thriller film Shamus.

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

Director Buzz Kulik’s 1973 American private eye comedy crime thriller film Shamus stars Burt Reynolds, Dyan Cannon, John P Ryan, and Joe Santos. Everybody knows that a shamus is a private detective in American slang, but it was originally a policeman or police detective, deriving from the Irish name Séamus (James) as many American police officers were of Irish descent.

Burt Reynolds plays Brooklyn, New York, private eye Shamus McCoy, who is paid the high fee of $10,000 by wealthy E J Hume (Ron Weyand) to find millions worth of diamonds stolen in a daring raid on a safe in New York City. He suffers the usual beatings by the bad guys on his way to solving the case of the stolen gems and the subsequent death of the thief his girlfriend by flame-thrower, in this entertaining 1940s-style thriller but set in the 1970s.

Reynolds twinkles in an engaging performance, and there is plenty of fast-moving action, though writer Barry Beckerman’s jokes for film fans (including references to The Big Sleep) are more enjoyable than the obligatory violence. Kulik’s brisk handling provides a good B-movie feel, and there is a strong support cast of welcome and capable actors, especially John P Ryan as ‘Hardcore’ and Joe Santos as Lieutenant Promuto. Dyan Cannon’s role as Alexis Montaigne is less thrilling, though Weitman said ‘It’s Bogart and Bacall all over again’. If only.

It is made largely on location in New York City.

Release date: January 31, 1973.

It was cut by 12 minutes from 106 minutes as a support feature in Britain.

The American operatic bass Giorgio Tozzi plays Dottore. Also in the cast are Ron Weyland as E J Hume, Larry Block as ‘Springy’, Beeson Carroll as Bolton, Kevin Conway as The Kid, Barry Beckerman, John Glover as Johnnie, and Kay Frye as Bookstore Girl.

Burt Reynolds said: ‘It was not a bad film, kind of cute. If the picture had been as good as the title sequence it would have made millions. As it was it made $5 million.’ That may be. It took $3,300,000 at the North America box office.

Scenes were filmed at Headquarters 1/101 Cavalry NYARNG (New York Army National Guard) at 321 Manor Road, Staten Island, New York, and at the former Rochroane Castle and Halsey Pond in Irvington, New York.

Producer Robert M Weitman discovered Barry Beckerman’s script when he was at MGM in the 1960s. In the 1970s, Weitman set it up as his second film at Columbia Pictures (following The Anderson Tapes), getting Beckerman to update it from the 1940s to the 1970s. Weitman had known Reynolds since the 1960s. He said: To me, Burt had always worked. I looked at things he’d done and said He’s funny. He throws away lines like a Kleenex. He was like a hidden iceberg.’

Producer Robert M Weitman later produced the 1976 TV movie A Matter of Wife… and Death starring Rod Taylor as the Burt Reynolds character, while Joe Santos reprises his role and there are early parts for Lynda Carter and Anne Archer. It was a pilot for a series that sadly did not happen.

On the first day of filming in Brooklyn, Reynolds was mobbed by 3,000 fans, mainly women and teenagers.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,280

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