Sam Whiskey

• Directed by Arnold Laven
• April 1, 1969 (US)

A widow hires an ex-gambler to retrieve gold bars from a sunken river boat to discreetly return them to the nearby Federal Mint from where they had been stolen by her late husband.

There were few people that have ever been as naturally charismatic as Burt Reynolds. In character he could flash his smile and charm anybody no matter how terrible or good his character was. He was almost always a cocky hero because whoever he played really was that good. Sam Whiskey is the film where he began this persona that carried him to great success in the 70s.

Sam Whiskey stars Burt Reynolds as the titular Sam Whiskey, Clint Walker as Sam’s US Army friend-turned-inventor O.W. Bandy, Ossie Davis as blacksmith Jed Hooker, and the stunning Angie Dickinson as the widowed Laura Breckenridge seeking to save herself from jail by hiring Sam to commit a reverse heist.

Before viewing I was concerned about the pairing of Ozzie Davis and Burt Reynolds. They are two very different types of actors yet when paired here were great together. Sam tried to charm or slick talk his way with Jed, but Jed could turn the tables. Davis and Reynolds turned the dynamic into great light comedy.

This is a lighthearted adventure comedy about a group of buddies doing something borderline stupid. Sam is a charming fast talker who is trustworthy. O.W. is the well-meaning and possibly a touch on the simple side individual who can do the job but is probably not the best for the job. Jed is the thinking man who acts as the common sense of the trio. 

In this reverse heist story where the characters must return the loot from where it was taken, I was expecting Laura Breckenridge to double cross the group in something like The Train Robbers but she’s just the love interest of Sam. She also provided information that sped things up and helped compress the movie to 90 something minutes. Reynolds and Dickinson had great chemistry here as a romantic couple or even just a duo that bantered. I did a little reading and they were apparently close but not romantically despite having gone on a few dates together. Whatever their actual status in life was, they worked well on screen.

Given Laura’s prominence and just the general nature of the character, I wish she had been a little bit more than just sex hungry for Sam and the writer gave her some excuse to get more directly involved in this adventure. It was a waste of talent and of character potential. Something as simple as distracting a guard or getting info with feminine charm.

The problem for me in the story is not the recovery of the gold from the ship. I just question how they sneak the gold back into the mint. It’s a good idea to use a statue that needed returned but weight alone would make it a bit difficult. Also I’m not sure if the volumes would match. But don’t think too much about that. This is meant to be fun.

We get some possible yet anachronistic technology for the era to accomplish the goals, and a few entertaining cons to keep the ball rolling. Bandy is an inventor that can craft gear to do what others cannot and Jed can fashion the gold from bar to statue to bar again. Sam provides the brains and opens does. Each brings something to the action.

Maybe not the greatest movie or the most exciting but it’s entertaining. The characters are all likable and you are looking forward to what problem will come up next since it is one thing after another. Nobody’s truly evil or out to get anybody. They all have to commit a crime to put things right. Carried by an unlikely trio of characters and actors, you have a very good time. The humor and dialogue are great. This is just the type of fun that no longer comes from Hollywood.

Same Whiskey as a fun western. Not overly humorous but more silly and leaves you with a smile. It is a treat watching Burt Reynolds use the persona that he did so well but the whole cast is a joy too.