HAMMER

US, 1972, 92 minutes, Colour.
Fred Williamson, Bernie Hamilton, Vonetta Mc Gee, William Smith.
Directed by Bruce D. Clark.

Hammer is one of the many violent black gangster films of the early seventies. Sidney Poitier had given a lead in the late sixties and had shown that there was a wide audience for films highlighting black situations. There was also an adaptation for black audiences in America of various conventions, for example the horror film with Blacula and numerous gangster films of which this is quite a good example. Fred Williamson appeared in a number of these and is the hero of Hammer.

1. The tone of the title, indication of themes, toughness and violence? How entertaining a thriller, sports film, black film?

2. Critics were generally praising of this black super-hero film. Why? Strength of screenplay, crispness of action, themes? The similarity between white super-hero and black super-hero films? Response of respective audiences? Black exploitation? The need for creating black heroes in America?

3. Colour photography, locations, the atmosphere of drug-running, boxing, gangsters and death? How convincingly presented?

4. A convincing look at the black world in America? The hero, his involvement with boxing, drug trafficking. human relationships, heroism, righting wrongs? How credible were the characters?

5. B. J. Hammer as portrayed by Fred Williamson? His size and impact? His background, his character, relationship with Loin, Rhoda? Friendship with Davis and the involvement in the drug-running? Big Sid and his power? Hammer and his involvement in violence, especially with Brenner? His alienation from his friends? The involvement in pulling the fight? The stance that he has to take? Retaliation against Big Sid and Brenner? Winning of Loin? Conventional hero - how well done?

6. The presentation of the gangsters: Big Sid as a type, his attitudes, behaviour, particular scenes, violence, death? The type of man who employs Brenner: psycopathic, violent? The other criminals?

7. The contrast with Davis and his work as a policeman, support of Hammer? Interest? The search for Loin?

8. Loin an an attractive heroine? involvement with Big Sid, change to Hammer, danger and rescue?

9. The fight sequences creating atmosphere? The drama of the action sequences? Violence for violence sake or appropriate to the plot?

10. Audience presuppositions about good and evil. lay and order, justice? Human relationships and human integrity? Honesty?