My Gun is Quick [Blu-ray]

Mickey Spillane’s tough-guy anti-hero private eye Mike Hammer appeared in thirteen novels published between 1947 and 1996.Two-fisted Mike Hammer was a cultural phenomenon in the 1950s - even Richie Cunningham hid a copy of ‘I the Jury’ under his mattress.The more Spillane was singled out for criticism by high-minded critics, the greater his book sales.Mike Hammer appeared in five feature films between 1953 and 1982 (each time played by a different actor).Four of the five are now on Blu-ray.and in two television series starring Darren McGavin (1957 -1958), and Stacy Keach (1983 -1998).UNITED ARTISTS TRILOGY 1953 -1957At the height of the character’s popularity, United Artists released three black-and-white Mike Hammer films:---- 1953: Biff Elliott in ‘I the Jury’ - UNAVAILABLENot yet on Blu-ray or Amazon Download, but it is available on YouTube, though this looks like a kinescope (in their search window, enter “I the Jury 1953”).Of the three films, this sticks closest to the Spillane original.‘I the Jury’ (1953) is set in New York, but filmed on a Hollywood soundstage, with exteriors represented by Christmas cards showing New York street scenes.Originally filmed in 3-D, it looks kind of cheesy on the flat screen.Hard to believe this was the work of legendary film noir cinematographer John Alton (his only attempt at 3-D).This may look like a B-movie, but 3-D technology was a big investment for United Artists, so ‘I the Jury’ played at the top of double-bills, making it an A-movie.YouTube even has an audio commentary recorded by Biff Elliott’s nephew in 2004, where the 81-year-old actor shares his memories.I really hope some enterprising company can secure the rights to a decent-looking print and release it on Blu-ray.Maybe a 3-D release would make a better impression (and don’t forget the audio commentary!)---- 1955: Ralph Meeker in Kiss Me Deadly (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]This version, directed by Robert Aldrich, is a cult classic.Reasonably faithful to the book, but with a new ending.Veteran movie weasel Ralph Meeker is a wonderfully unpleasant Mike Hammer.‘Kiss Me Deadly’ receives the full Criterion treatment on Blu-ray, with lots of extras and English SDH subtitles (avoid an earlier MGM DVD).---- 1957: Robert Bray in ‘My Gun Is Quick’ - REVIEWED ON THIS PAGEThe script begins faithfully, but the rest of the film veers too far from Spillane’s novel.‘Kiss Me Deadly’ and ‘My Gun Is Quick’ are set in California, which is WRONG.Mike Hammer is a New York detective, but in one scene Mike shows off his speedboating skills in the Los Angeles harbor.I own the old DVD of ‘My Gun Is Quick’. The clarity of the new Blu-ray is a major improvement.No extras other than the movie trailer and English SDH subtitles.The least memorable film in the trilogy, but worthwhile for dedicated Hammsters.1963: Mickey Spillane in The Girl Hunters [Blu-ray] (Limited Edition)Mike Hammer’s creator turns out to be an outstanding Mike Hammer.A bit old and worn for the part - explained in the movie because Hammer is just coming off a seven-year drunk (long story).Filmed in London’s Elstree Studio (masquerading as New York), with a few exteriors shot in New York.Shirley Eaton is the co-star - one year before she was Goldfinger’s Golden Girl.This was the last black-and-white Mike Hammer film - it comes with an audio commentary + interviews, but no subtitles.1982: Armand Assante in I, the Jury (1982) [Blu-ray]The only film in color.The first Hammer film shot in New York.Updating Mike Hammer to the swinging ‘80s was a mistake - it even features several well-known porn stars in supporting parts (well-known depending on your age).Armand Assante is too smooth to be Mike Hammer. He even refuses to wear a fedora, much less a pork-pie hat.It comes with an audio commentary and English SDH subtitles.ALMOST A MIKE HAMMER FILM:In 1954, before ‘The Girl Hunters’, Mickey Spillane played himself in an odd little movie: Ring of Fear (DVD)Not a very good film, but it was a dry-run for Mickey Spillane to hone his Mike Hammer-ish acting skills.Someone is sabotaging lion tamer Clyde Beatty's Circus,so Clyde Beatty (playing himself) calls in mystery writer Mickey Spillane (playing himself) to solve the mystery.I was tempted to add this to my Mike Hammer filmography - in color, with English SDH subtitles.P.S.If you've never read "I The Jury", the first Mike Hammer novel from 1947, by all means do so, and do it before you see any of the movie versions.It has one of the best surprise endings in all of literature.Lots of mystery novels have surprise endings, but they usually involve some cheating on the part of the author."I, The Jury" has a real shocker of an ending, but it makes total sense.The only surprise ending that rivals it is by Agatha Christie, in "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (1926).TELEVISION:1957 -1959: 78 half-hour episodes starring Darren McGavin: Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer: The Complete Series1983 -1998: Stacy Keach played Mike Hammer in 74 one-hour TV episodes, and three made-for-TV movies.Four different actresses played his secretary Velda.50 of 74 one-hour episodes and all the movies are available on DVD, packaged in three different boxes.Stacy Keach will always be my ideal Mike Hammer (I remember this series from when it was first broadcast).Filmed in New York.--- 1983 Pilot: ‘Murder Me, Murder You’ + the first two Season 1 episodes in a two-DVD set: Mike Hammer: More Than Murder / Murder Me, Murder You (Double Feature)--- 1984 CBS Season 1 (12 episodes) UNAVAILABLE except the first two episodes (“More than Murder” Parts One & Two) are coupled on DVD with the 1983 pilot.--- 1984 -1985 CBS Season 2 (14 episodes) UNAVAILABLE--- 1986 TV movie: ‘The Return of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer’ - included in the CBS Season 3 box.--- 1986 -1987 CBS Season 3 (22 episodes) in Mickey Spillane's - The New Mike Hammer the Series (1986) (seven DVDs).--- 1989: TV movie: ‘Murder Takes All’ - included in the CBS Season 3 box.--- 1997 -1998 Season 4: in syndication (26 episodes) in Mike Hammer: Private Eye (four double-sided DVDs).If you look up my review of Season 3 on Amazon: Mickey Spillane's - The New Mike Hammer the Series (1986), I go into detail about the convoluted history of the Stacy Keach series, including the long gaps between Season 2 (”Mickey Spillanes’s Mike Hammer”), Season 3 (“The New Mike Hammer”) and Season 4 (Mike Hammer: Private Eye”).My review is dated March 25, 2020.

The reviews are averaging about 3.3 as I write this and it is just a bit better than that.Mike Hammer is enigmatic enough though the original texts that there are many waysto present the character. This was adequate but not stellar so the rating should averageout to 3.5 stars over time. We have Mike Hammer having a hard time figuring out whichdamsel in distress he is supposed to save so that is entirely consistent. There will bebetter portrayals of Mike Hammer but there have been oh so many worse.

Mr. Hammer, try slowing that gun down, the women will not complain.

Harry Neumann (Bowery Boys) was the cinematographer and I think this is a 5 star for that. No CG, yet the chase scenes are very compelling, considering the budget, the photography caught my attention and held it, very refreshing. Neumann kept this picture going when it could have flopped. Script was fine, but Neumann's chase scene were well done. The women in this film were all top drawer. The banter between our hero and the police is Ok, plot was good and hand me guessing until the end who was behind it all. Again the filming is excellent for any level of film production!

You could call this movie strictly routine noir, and phrase it in a way that makes it sound true. It's got a private detective, femme fatales, a MacGuffin to kill for, and plenty of people to do the dying over it. But what you need to know is that it all works. Not that I don't have my gripes, but the average deserves better than that. Mike Hammer is New York, and taking him out to LA is a weird choice, but it doesn't make that much of a difference in the balance. It's a solid noir, and if that's your style, this'll do it for you.

The story is good, that is, the book is. This movie is a low class B. They picked the wrong guy to be Mike Hammer. He doesn't look the part, doesn't act the part and hasn't the balls to be a Mike Hammer. If you buy it, you are a Mickey Spillane fan. If you don't buy it, you haven't missed much. I'm a fan, Mike Hammer is my kind of hero - Like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Rambo - tough, mean to the core. This guy ain't him..

Almost a parody of the books. Movie locale is LA not New York. Long shots of boat rides and junk yard cranes. 15 minute story line crammed into an hour. Except for the curiosity factor not worth viewing.

Love old mysteries . The Falcon, Perry Mason , B. Jones, Mattlock, Philip Marlo, Mike Gammer, Box 13