SHAMUS

US, 1973, 108 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Dyan Cannon, John B. Ryan, Kevin Conway, John Glover.
Directed by Buzz Kulik.

Shamus is what might be called a typical Burt Reynolds action film of the 1970s. He plays a private eye detective who likes the easy life. However, lacking prospects in business, he is happy to take on a ten thousand dollar case to recover some diamonds. This involves him with the Mob, with all kinds of athletics as he moves through the various boroughs of New York. He also gets the chance to romance Dyan Cannon. Easy entertainment in the Burt Reynolds vein.

1. Was this just another private eye thriller or was it something more?

2. What kind of character was Shamus? Was he want to be typically modern in any way? How?

3. In films like this, the methods of the man on the side of right seem to be indistinguishable from those of the criminals. Was this true here? What standards for his profession did Shamus have? for himself? What did he consider right and what wrong?

4. Was the film too brutal - throwing death, the faces in the garbage, the bashings? or were they necessary for this kind of film? Why?

5. How bad were the criminals? How cruel? their murdering of brothers and of the little man with the memory, the military officer?

6. Why did Shamus press on with his investigations when he realised that his employer was involved?

7. How involved did Shamus get with Alexis? What kind of woman was she? Did they have any lasting future together?

8. What is the value of this kind of film? entertainment only? What attitudes to law and order, justice and right does it presuppose?

9. The film laced its investigation and violence with humour. How did this work well? Improve the film? how?