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Sharky's Machine (1981)

R  |   |  Action, Crime, Drama  |  18 December 1981 (USA)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 3,645 users  
Reviews: 61 user | 21 critic

Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division, while investigating a high-dollar prostitution ring, Sharky ... See full summary »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Victor Scorelli
...
Papa
...
Lt. Friscoe
...
Donald Hotchkins
...
Arch
...
Billy Score
...
Nosh
...
Smiley
...
...
Joe Tipps
...
Mabel
Hari Rhodes ...
Highball Mary
...
Barrett
James O'Connell ...
Twigs
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division, while investigating a high-dollar prostitution ring, Sharky stumbles across a mob murder with government ties, and responds by assembling his downtrodden fellow investigators (Sharky's "machine") to find the leaders and bring them to justice before they kill off all his partners and witnesses, including Sharky himself. Written by Unknown

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

murder | vice | prostitution | maverick cop | tough cop | See All (61) »

Taglines:

If you mess with a cop like Sharky, you better be very tough . . . or very beautiful. See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| |

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Brigada Anti-Crime  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Though Burt Reynolds has made a number of police thrillers and played a cop or private detective a number of times, it is this one only movie that is filmed with a very similar tone and style to the "Dirty Harry" series. See more »

Goofs

After Arch climbs over Papa's dead body on the stairwell, Papa moves his head. See more »

Quotes

Dominoe: This is all you know, isn't it? Pushing, hitting, and punching! Does it make you feel good or something?
Sharky: Sometimes, yes!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Speaking Parts (1989) See more »

Soundtracks

My Funny Valentine
Performed by Julie London
Written by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Tight story, great period soundtrack and entertaining morality play. Character actor extravaganza!
13 October 2004 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

The jazz soundtrack makes this seem like a Clint Eastwood movie.

In fact the whole thing strikes me as Burt doing Clint. The story is good and the movie is full of one liners that I carry with me to this day. (Reynolds to bad guy: I'm gonna pull the chain on you pal, because you're f'n up my town. And you wanna know the worst part? You're from outta state!)

Highlights: The Technics 1500B reel to reel is nice set dressing for audiophiles!

Charles Durning coming unglued while listening to wiretap tapes of prostitutes having (sort of) phone sex. (You'd have to see it, trust me, it's hilarious.)

Brian Keith plays against type as a tough guy. (And does it well!)

Bernie Casie's preoccupation with Zen.

Rachel Ward. WOW! (Where'd she go?)

Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show band play their rears off as usual. (Joe William's guests on vocals. Manhattan Transfer re-recorded "Route 66".) The soundtrack lends class to the whole affair.

Need I say more? It might be Reynold's best film ever.

(Yeah, he plays himself, as usual, but it works!)

Enjoy!
25 of 32 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?
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