Hammer

1972
R
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

773

YOUR RATING

Trailer for this boxing drama starring Fred Williamson

Play trailer2:32

1 Video

49 Photos

Action Crime Drama

A Los Angeles dock worker becomes a boxer but his crooked manager is involved in various rackets and he's working for the mob.A Los Angeles dock worker becomes a boxer but his crooked manager is involved in various rackets and he's working for the mob.A Los Angeles dock worker becomes a boxer but his crooked manager is involved in various rackets and he's working for the mob.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

773

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Bruiser
(as Juan De Carlos)

Jorge Cervera Jr.

Medina
(as George Cervera Jr.)

Leon Isaac Kennedy

Bobby Williams
(as Leon Issac)

Perrie Lott

Nagi

Philip Jackson

Landlord
(as Phillip Jackson)

Director
- Bruce D. Clark
Writer
- Charles Eric Johnson
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Film debut of Marilyn Joi.

Goofs
The police cars that chase Brady into the train yard are Dodge Coronets, but when Davis shows up, the police cars change to Plymouth Satellites.

Quotes
Roughhouse: You gettin' out! I'm gettin' out, man. You cats are comin' down too hard.
Big Sid: Calm yourself, Rough', baby. You gonna work yourself up to an ulcer, old man. Just tell old Sid what's got your jaws uptight.
Roughhouse: Look, man, I done paid you back ten times over them IOUs. And now I wanna make a clean break.
Big Sid: Alright... takes a lotta money to live the good life on your pay. Man, you still got champagne and caviar runnin' though your veins from the old days.
Roughhouse: No. Get yourself a new boy. I don't mind turning my head every now and then on a rip-off. But bustin' up people just ain't my bag, man.
Big Sid: Well whatever you decide, my man. I'm a reasonable cat. But, why don't you think it over tonight, huh? I'll do the same and we'll talk about it tomorrow.
Roughhouse: But I an't gonna change my mind.
Big Sid: Well, if it comes down to that, I'll understand. Cos' I'm your partner, come hell or high water.

Connections
Featured in Is That Black Enough for You?!? (2022)

User reviews13

Review

Featured review

5/10

Nailed it

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.