After his best friend and war buddy is mysteriously gunned down, Mike Hammer will stop at nothing to settle the score for the man who sacrificed a limb to save his own life during combat. Along the way, Hammer rides a fine line between gumshoe and a one-man jury, staying two-steps ahead of the law—and trying not to get bumped off in the process.
Practical Effects
Guns, fists, and ashtrays hurled directly at camera.
Acting
Biff Elliot's Hammer snarls through every scene like a wounded pitbull.
Production
Cheap sets somehow look seedier in stereoscopic glory.
Director
Harry Essex
Biff Elliot
Mike Hammer
Preston Foster
Capt. Pat Chambers
Peggie Castle
Charlotte Manning
Margaret Sheridan
Velda
Alan Reed
George Kalecki
Mary Anderson
Eileen Vickers
Tom Powers
Milt Miller
Frances Osborne
Myrna Devlin
Bob Cunningham
Hal Kines
Tani Guthrie
Mary Bellamy
Joe Besser
Pete, Elevator Operator
Paul Dubov
Marty
John Qualen
Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
Nestor Paiva
Manuel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Biff Elliot was so unknown that some posters didn't feature his name—just 'MICKEY SPILLANE'S' in giant letters. The author hated the casting anyway.
This was the first Mike Hammer adaptation and helped spark a brief 3D noir craze—studios thought violence jumping off screen would lure audiences away from their new TVs.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
