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Hammer

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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).

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.

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