SHAKY'S MASHING

SHARKY'S MACHINE (1981)
dir: Burt Reynolds

SHAKY'S MASHING
Crazy #89, August 1982
w: Murad Gumen
a: Kent Gamble

Tom Sharkey (Burt Reynolds) is an Atlanta cop who has been demoted to vic squad in the basement after chasing a drug dealer onto a city bus and shooting him, but not following proper procedure. He gets adjusted to his new surroundings under Lt. Friscoe (Charles Durning), his new supervisor.

During the arrest of a prostitute, Sharkey finds the clues in a notebook lead to a bigger prostitution ring, and with the aid of fellow officers Papa (Brian Keith) , Arch (Bernie Casey), and surveillance expert Nosh (Richard Libertini), they investigate head prostitute Dominoe (Rachel Ward).

Dominoe goes under the guise of professional dancer. She is having an affair with a local politician. As she is being surveilled, She is murdered by pimp Victor (Vittorio Gassman), and Sharkey is bawled out by Lt. Friscoe for not turning the case to homicide.

Victor only thinks he has killed Dominoe, but has killed Tiffany, another prostitute who occasionally works out of Dominoe's apartment. She turns up alive and Shakey recommends it would be safe to hide out at his apartment. There she discovers he has been keeping photos of her from his skateouts and a relationship ensues. He finds out where Victor lives, and goes to get Victor to bring him to justice. Victor thinks he has destroyed evidence against him by having Dominoe killed only to find out she's still alive, and sends his men after Sharkey.

Sharkey's men (his machine) attempt to pursue Victor's right-hand man Billy Score (Henry Silva) and he decides he'd rather jump out a window than be shot by Sharky.

Commentary is made about Burt Reynolds going from actor to director.