Hammer (1972)

Absolutely Fantastic

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Former football player Fred Williamson does well in his earliest starring vehicle, playing B.J. Hammer, fired from his job as a dock worker but soon finding success as a pugilist. He shrugs off suggestions that the local mob is playing a large part in his success, although the writing is on the wall. His sleazy manager, Big Sid (Charles Lampkin), IS a crime figure who also dabbles in drugs. Eventually, the mob will order him to take a fall in a fight, and abduct his girlfriend Lois (Vonetta McGee) to ensure his participation.All in all, "Hammer" shows its audience a pretty good time. The director is Bruce D. Clark ("The Ski Bum", "Galaxy of Terror"), who utilizes some good camera angles and some quick cutting. The action scenes are fine, and there are effective doses of sex and violence to please an exploitation loving crowd. The story by Charles Eric Johnson is straightforward, and uses weary detective Davis (Bernie Hamilton ('Starsky and Hutch')), and the love interest Lois, to function as moral centres for our hero.The violence may be somewhat hard to take for some viewers, but it's hard to be that upset when that typically bright red movie blood just looks so fake. An undeniable highlight is in seeing foxy exploitation starlet Marilyn Joi (in her film debut) do an incredibly erotic dance.Fred brings all his athleticism and charisma to the starring role, and receives strong support from Hamilton, Lampkin, McGee, the eternally bad ass William Smith as an incredibly rotten thug, Mel Stewart as a trainer, D'Urville Martin as a pool hall regular, Stack Pierce as a guy named "Roughhouse", and John Quade as a goon. Leon Isaac Kennedy (the "Penitentiary" series) also makes his film debut as a kid named Bobby.Set to a pulsing soul score by Solomon Burke, "Hammer" is decent (if predictable) fun that does leave you with a smile on your face.Seven out of 10.

Hammer is former NHL star Fred Williamson's first blaxploitation film. Hard to believe that Blaxploitation gave more former black athletes work than Dancing with the Stars!Williamson plays Hammer a decent guy, a dock worker in LA who gets into boxing but the promoter is crooked and wants him to take a dive or else there would be consequences for his girlfriend. People who cross the local Mr Big be it former boxers or trainers get to feel the full force of his henchman Brenner (William Smith) and he likes to dish out pain.Unusually for a blaxploitation film the lead detective is played by a black man (Bernie Hamilton of Starsky & Hutch fame) who advises and helps out Hammer. The lack of antagonistic relationship between our hero and the police is refreshing.Hammer is not a great film, rather formulaic but it is a well made film with good production values. It has its share of violence, nudity and sex. Williamson tones it down here, more of an ordinary Joe swiftly rising to the top.Smith as the slimy, sleazy, racist villain steals the show. He was one of the best villains in the 1970s, the guy audiences loved to hate.

Fred Williamson is B.J. Hammer, a cool cat who gets involved in a shady boxing career in one of his lesser blacksploitation movies. Williamson fans will still like it though as it moves at a fairly fast pace. Also stars Marilyn Joi (here billed as Tracey King) in her first film role. I guess if i could sum it up, it would be servicable enough, but instantly forgetable like Chinese food.My Grade:C-Where I saw it: Showtime ExtremeEye Candy: Nawana Davis (Mary/Breasts), Elizabeth Harding (Rhonda/full frontal), Marilyn Joi ("black magic" woman/breasts), Vonetta McGee (Lois/buns)

Let's be honest about this one. Only reason I watched this is because it's from the director of the notorious "Galaxy of Terror" (1981, a horror/sci-fi B-movie with LOTS of fun!!!!).Not being a fan of exploitation, even though I love extreme cinema, I have seen none or few blaxploitation films. Anyway, I think this could be characterized as such. It is a boxing/crime film with violence, nudity, boxing, lots of black people and fight-action. Soundtrack is mostly funky 70's stuff which I normally hate, but fit well in here and builds cozy atmosphere. Anyway, this movie is NO good, but it's got one single good thing in common with "Galaxy of Terror" : fast pace. Maybe after all its a decent film for a cheap genre, I don't know.recommended to blaxploitation fans and/or completists