Hammer (1972 film)

Hammer
Hammer
	US film poster
Directed by	Bruce D. Clark
Written by	Charles Eric Johnson
Produced by	Al Adamson
Starring	Fred Williamson; Bernie Hamilton; Vonetta McGee; William Smith
Cinematography	Robert Steadman
Edited by	George Folsey Jr.
Music by	Solomon Burke
Production; company	Essaness Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	September 20, 1972;
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Hammer is a 1972 blaxploitation film directed by Bruce D. Clark. The film was released following the successes of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and Shaft, notable 1971 films that popularized black cinema. It starred Fred Williamson as B.J. Hammer. Williamson went on to become a staple of the genre.

Plot

B.J. Hammer is a boxer who rises up the ranks with help from the Mafia. However, Hammer does not realize that the help comes with a price: He is asked to throw a fight. Gangsters threaten to harm his girlfriend in an attempt to force him to go through with their plan. Hammer is forced to figure out a way to save his dignity and the life of his girlfriend when she is kidnapped by the gangsters.

Cast

Fred Williamson as B.J. Hammer
Bernie Hamilton as Davis
Vonetta McGee as Lois
Charles Lampkin as Sid "Big Sid"
William Smith as Brenner
Elizabeth Harding as Rhoda
Mel Stewart as Professor
Stack Pierce as "Roughhouse"
John Quade as Riley
D'Urville Martin as Sonny
Leon Isaac as Bobby Williams
George P. Wilbur as Brady

Reception and legacy

The movie gained a positive reception.^[1] "The Hammer" has become Williamson's official nickname, earned during his time playing professional football.^[2] Williamson is also credited as playing "Hammer, the ladies man," in the 1980 martial arts film Fist of Fear, Touch of Death and as "The Hammer" in a 2006 direct-to-video release called Spaced Out.