Sharky's Machine

Sharky's Machine
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBurt Reynolds
Screenplay byGerald Di Pego
Based onSharky's Machine
(1978 novel)
by William Diehl
Produced byHank Moonjean
Starring
CinematographyWilliam A. Fraker
Edited byWilliam D. Gordean
Dennis Virkler
Music byDoc Severinsen
Al Capps
Production
company
Deliverance Productions
Distributed by
Release date
  • December 18, 1981 (1981-12-18)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$17.5 million
Box office$35.6 million

Sharky's Machine is a 1981 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Burt Reynolds, who stars in the title role, along with Rachel Ward, Vittorio Gassman, Brian Keith, Charles Durning, Earl Holliman, Bernie Casey and Henry Silva. It is based on the 1978 novel by William Diehl, with a screenplay by Gerald Di Pego. In the film, Atlanta police Sergeant Tom Sharky (Reynolds) is assigned to the vice squad, where he investigates a high-priced prostitute (Ward) with ties to political and mob figures.

The film was released by Warner Bros. on December 18, 1981. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, and was a moderate commercial success. Rachel Ward's performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year – Actress.