Product Details

• Actors: Fred Williamson, Bernie Hamilton, Vonetta McGee, William Smith, Charles Lampkin
• Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000VCZWU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,861 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Hammer" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Grab a ringside seat and get ready to rumble with an action-filled foray into the world of jive-talkin' scammers and schemers! Soul Cinema heavyweight Fred Williamson (Starsky & Hutch) "hammers his way to the top" (LA Herald-Examiner) in this super-fly fight film that's the real deal!After spending his life trying to get off the streets of LA ex-Golden Gloves champ B.J. Hammer (Williamson) has finally earned his shot at boxing's big time. But the mob delivers Hammer a heavy blow when they kidnap his girlfriend and order him to throw the main event. Now facing the biggest baddest bout of his career B.J. must give up his dream of becoming a legit player or risk losing the only person who's ever truly been in his corner!System Requirements:Running Time: 91 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 027616901545 Manufacturer No: 1005925

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good starring vehicle for "Hammer" Williamson--, September 17, 2006

By 

Hype Currie "scholar of pop culture" (Detroit, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammer (DVD)

this was Fred Williamson's first major lead role, following supporting roles in films and TV like M*A*S*H and JULIA. In this, he's B.J. Hammer; a Philadelphia transplant now earning a living as a dockworker in Los Angeles, he stumbles on a mob "protection" shakedown at his job. After beating up a roughneck, he's introduced to a local "fixer", Big Sid (Charles Lampkin) , a boxing manager who promises to make B.J. a champ.

B.J. reluctantly agrees-- he knows Sid's outfit is shady, but he intends to make the most of it. Mel Stewart is the Professor, who trains B.J. We learn that the Prof was a boxer as well- and Sid was his manager-- but fell on hard times, thanks in part to Sid's shadiness. William Smith is Brenner, Sid's chief enforcer. Vonetta McGee is Lois, Sid's secretary- She really likes B.J., and doesn't want to see him get hurt. Bernie Hamilton (who went on to play Capt. Dobey on TV's "Starsky & Hutch") is Det. Davis, a cop out to bust Sid's operation, who offers friendly warnings to B.J. about getting in too deep. The plot follows a certain formula, and is given a black-culture twist: Sid sets up B.J. to fight palookas, and as B.J. starts rising in the boxing ranks-- and making decent money-- many in his old 'hood start accusing him of being a sellout; even his old pool-hall buddies turn their back on him; separate confrontations with a militant and a hooker are among the more amusing asides in the film.

The film's climax is set up when Sid's Mob overseers decide that B.J. will take a fall in his next bout-- the state heavyweight championship against Irish Joe Brady. The Professor won't co-sign on the con, and he gets a fatal beating for his trouble-- on top of that, Lois is kidnapped, to force B.J. to cooperate. B.J. then decides that all bets are off, and he decides to win the fight, and then takes the fight to Brenner & his goons.

Black action fans should note bit parts here by genre regular D'Urville Martin ("Black Caesar", "Dolemite"), and future "Penitentiary" star Leon Isaac (Kennedy).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Please Hammer, Don't Hurt Em!!, January 8, 2006

By 

Stanley Runk "Runkdapunk" (Camp North Pines) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hammer (DVD)

How ironic! Fred "The Hammer" Williamson plays Hammer! Since I'm the first reviewing this, I guess I'm obligated to give you the plot. Hammer gets a job boxing for the mob. There he meets Lois, and like Tears For Fears, he's Head Over Heels and not long after that he Sowing His Seeds Of Love. Soon the head honcho is wanting Hammer to take a fall in the ring, and do you really think Hammer's gonna do this? As an incentive they kidnap the woman he loves. This leads to the final showdown! I wanted to like this more than I did. It's not bad by any means, but it's not dramatic enough for you to really care about anyone, and there's not enough action to carry the film as a cheap action flick either. It's just kinda stuck in a so-so kind of place. Williamson is cool and badass as usual. He's always worth watching. Supporting cast is nothing to brag about though B movie tough guy William Smith is cool as a mob henchman. He's kinda underused though. Recommended if you're into the blaxploitation genre, are a Williamson fan, and can find it cheap.

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Typical 70's Blackexplotation film, June 26, 2008

By 

L. Cabos (planet earth) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hammer (DVD)

Not a bad film. Not great either. William Smith is killed. Now you know all you need to know.