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IMDbPro

Sharky's Machine

  • 1981
  • R
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning, and Bernie Casey in Sharky's Machine (1981)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:51
1 Video
41 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama

Tom Sharky is demoted to vice after a bust goes terribly wrong. He and his team stumble across a mob murder tied to prostitution and government.Tom Sharky is demoted to vice after a bust goes terribly wrong. He and his team stumble across a mob murder tied to prostitution and government.Tom Sharky is demoted to vice after a bust goes terribly wrong. He and his team stumble across a mob murder tied to prostitution and government.

  • Director
    • Burt Reynolds
  • Writers
    • William Diehl
    • Gerald Di Pego
  • Stars
    • Burt Reynolds
    • Rachel Ward
    • Vittorio Gassman
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    6.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Burt Reynolds
    • Writers
      • William Diehl
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • Stars
      • Burt Reynolds
      • Rachel Ward
      • Vittorio Gassman
    • 86User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Sharky's Machine
    Trailer 1:51
    Watch Sharky's Machine

    Photos41

    Sharky's Machine (1981)
    1 sheet
    Advance, 1 sheet movie poster
    Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning, and Rachel Ward in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Burt Reynolds in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Burt Reynolds and Rachel Ward in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Burt Reynolds in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Burt Reynolds and Rachel Ward in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Henry Silva in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Burt Reynolds and Charles Durning in Sharky's Machine (1981)
    Rachel Ward in Sharky's Machine (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Burt Reynolds
    Burt Reynolds
    • Sharky
    Rachel Ward
    Rachel Ward
    • Dominoe
    Vittorio Gassman
    Vittorio Gassman
    • Victor
    Brian Keith
    Brian Keith
    • Papa
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Friscoe
    Earl Holliman
    Earl Holliman
    • Hotchkins
    Bernie Casey
    Bernie Casey
    • Arch
    Henry Silva
    Henry Silva
    • Billy Score
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Nosh
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Smiley
    Joseph Mascolo
    Joseph Mascolo
    • Joe Tipps
    Carol Locatell
    Carol Locatell
    • Mabel
    Hari Rhodes
    Hari Rhodes
    • Highball Mary
    John Fiedler
    John Fiedler
    • Barrett
    James O'Connell
    James O'Connell
    • Twigs
    Val Avery
    Val Avery
    • Man with Siakwan
    Suzee Pai
    Suzee Pai
    • Siakwan
    Aarika Wells
    Aarika Wells
    • Tiffany
    • Director
      • Burt Reynolds
    • Writers
      • William Diehl
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Clint Eastwood made the comedy Every Which Way But Loose (1978), Burt Reynolds reportedly said to him, "Clint, you're getting into my territory [comedy], and if it's a success, I'm going out and make 'Dirty Harry Goes to Atlanta'!". When Sharky's Machine (1981) went into production, Eastwood sent a telegram to Reynolds saying, "You really weren't kidding, were you?" Reynolds has described this movie as 'Dirty Harry Goes to Atlanta' whilst many reviewers and critics have likened it to the 'Dirty Harry' film series.
    • Goofs
      On the boat, Smiley tells Sharky, "When you went to see the man, you really pissed him off... you should have just turned[Dominoe] in. She'd be dead, but Nosh, Jo Jo and all your friends would be alive." But the way the movie is edited, Nosh and Jo Jo were killed before Sharkey went to see Victor to tell him Dominoe is still alive.
    • Quotes

      Sharky: I'm gonna pull the chain on you, pal. And you wanna know why? 'Cause you're fucking up my city. 'Cause you're walking all over people like you own them. And you wanna know the worst part? You're from out of state.

    • Alternate versions
      The censored version prepared for US television restores one scene not included in the theatrical prints. This shows Charles Durning's character talking about his experience in Vietnam.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Neighbors, Sharky's Machine, Ghost Story, Pennies from Heaven (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      My Funny Valentine
      Performed by Chet Baker

      by Richard Rodgers (as R. Rodgers) & Lorenz Hart (as L. Hart)

      Courtesy Liberty Records

      A division of Capitol Records

    User reviews86

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Sharky: First Name, Sergeant.
    Sharky's Machine is directed by Burt Reynolds and written by William Diehl and Gerald Di Pego. It stars Reynolds, Vittorio Gassman, Rachel Ward, Henry Silva, Carol Locatell, Brian Keith, Bernie Casey, Earl Holliman and Charles Durning. Music is by Snuff Garrett and cinematography by William A. Fraker. Plot finds Reynolds as Atlanta narcotics cop Tom Sharky, who finds himself busted down to vice squad after a drug bust goes badly wrong. If he thought it was going to be dull and routine he is very much mistaken, for soon enough Sharky finds himself in deep with a high class prostitution ring, political corruption and cold blooded murder.

    The Sharky's Machine of the title is the group of cops that Tom Sharky gathers for the case he is working on. What starts out as standard surveillance at the home of beautiful hooker Domino (Ward), turns into a bloody trip into the workings of the seedy kingpins pulling the strings. But the kicker here is that as Sharky becomes an unwilling voyeur to Dominoe's life, he finds himself falling for her. He's fascinated by her, he feels from a distance her sadness of a life that she knows no better of. Tom Sharky is a tough dude, a manly man, a perfect role for Reynolds in fact, but he also needs to be loved, he likes roses and wood carving, he looks back to a childhood lost, it's this compelling characterisation that lifts Sharky's Machine above many other cop thrillers in a similar vein.

    The film is, however, still violent and unflinching in its observations of this seedy part of Atlanta. Scum, violence and abuse is never far away, and Reynolds the director shows a deft hand at balancing the rough with the smooth motions of the narrative. He also shows admirable restraint for sex scenes, choosing mostly to suggest rather than titillate, while his acting performance is top notch as he neatly layers the strands of Sharky's emotional psyche. Around Reynolds is an array of engaging professional performances, notably Casey, Keith, a wonderfully maniacal Silva and Ward, the latter of which blends smouldering sexuality with an innocence that tugs the old heart strings.

    Some of the outcome is telegraphed early, and the ending, having been a frantic and bloody last quarter, is crowned too abruptly (a shame since it contains an awesome stunt), but much like Reynolds' 1975 film Hustle, this too is badly undervalued in the neo-noir universe. 8/10
    helpful•13
    2
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Mar 2, 2012

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Sharkey's Machine
    • Filming locations
      • Peachtree Plaza Hotel - 210 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Deliverance Productions
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,610,100
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,022,041
      • Dec 20, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,610,100
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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