I, the Jury (1982)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Richard T. Heffron

Writers:

Larry Cohen (writer)
Mickey Spillane (novel)

Release Date:

22 April 1982 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He was only a private eye - but he wanted to be the judge and jury as well. [Video]

Plot:

An old friend of a private detective is murdered. The detective, Mike Hammer, will make every effort to find out the killer...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Mike Hammer | Killer | Private Detective | Adultery

Cast

Armand Assante	...	Mike Hammer
Barbara Carrera	...	Dr. Charlotte Bennett
Laurene Landon	...	Velda
Alan King	...	Charles Kalecki
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Joe Butler
Paul Sorvino	...	Detective Pat Chambers
Judson Earney Scott	...	Charles Kendricks (as Judson Scott)
Barry Snider	...	Romero
Julia Barr	...	Norma Childs
Jessica James	...	Hilda Kendricks
Frederic Downs	...	Jack Williams
Mary Margaret Amato	...	Myrna Williams
F.J. O'Neil	...	Goodwin
William G. Schilling	...	Lundee
Robert Sevra	...	Breslin

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Movielab) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | Norway:16 (video) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release)

Company:

American Cinema Productions

Trivia:

Larry Cohen, the writer of the film, was originally hired to direct this film, but was replaced after a week.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Hammer is attempting to enter the compound, the guards refer to explosives rigged at the fence and along the driveway as "daisy cutters", which are 15000lb general-purpose bombs; they probably intended to say "claymores".

Quotes:

Detective Pat Chambers: Try not to kill more than two or three people today, okay?

Movie Connections:

References The House Without a Key (1926)

Not bad, but it's not Mike Hammer

Everywhere I look, people say that this is the best Mike Hammer film to date, and I can't help but ask "why?" It just isn't very Mike Hammer. If perhaps it was just a ripoff of the pulp classic "I, the Jury" with Armand Assante, I would have enjoyed it. As a movie, it's pretty good considering it was pure 1980's action. But as Mike Hammer, it's weak.

The biggest differences between true Mike Hammer and this movie is Armand Assante's portrayal. He does a fine acting job, but Hammer is MEAN and always angry. In this, Assante is either manic depressive or smirking at the bad guys that he just beat. Mike Hammer gets into fist fights. Armand just pushes some people down stairs, doesn't throw punches. At least they got the ending right, although Armand Assante was still way too melancholy.

I can say several positive things about this movie. The scene when Assante does a full assault on the criminal's compound with an M-16 is well directed, a good solid action scene (no way connected with the book). Velda and Assante's love interests were both more interesting to watch than the rest of the movie.

In closing, I would like to say that Hollywood still has the chance to make a good, solid film based on Mike Hammer. Two tips: FOLLOW THE BOOK. Regardless of which book you use, follow it. Spillane wrote better than 90% of Hollywood anyways. And second, get someone who can be a mean and downright angry Mike Hammer, not depressed. I think Michael Madsen would fit the job well, he has the right look and the right voice.