The adventures of Mickey Spillane's tough-talking, brawling, skirt-chasing private detective Mike Hammer, who's always ready to use his fists on a "mug" or his charm on a "skirt" to get the case solved.
Top-Rated Episodes
S2.E25
Showgirl Ruby Duvall is roughed up by her future sister-in-law, arrogant society snob Joyce Conroy, and offered $5000 not to marry Philip and soil the family name. It seems an open-and-shut when Ruby...
S2.E39
Mike's slippery friend Al Sparks skips town because of a gambling debt. He turns up in Forge River charged with murdering the female owner of the diner where he worked. Hammer discovers everyone ...
S2.E27
A former convict who is now a respectable businessman is reluctant for Hammer's help, when two recently released convict friends try to force him back into the life crime, until they kidnap his wife.
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Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
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Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
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Title: Mike Hammer (1958–1959)
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The adventures of Mickey Spillane's tough-talking, brawling, skirt-chasing private detective Mike Hammer, who's always ready to use his fists on a "mug" or his charm on a "skirt" to get the case solved.
Plot Keywords:
fingerman | private detective | mike hammer | character name in series title | kneed in the face |Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
7 January 1958 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer See more »Filming Locations:
Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
(78 episodes)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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Trivia
This was one of the programs that Bobby Rupp and murder victims Herbert, Nancy, and Kenyon Clutter watched the evening that they were killed by Richard Eugene Hickcok and Perry Edward Smith (November 15, 1959). Bobby Rupp was Nancy Clutter's boyfriend, and went home before the killers arrived. See more »Connections
Referenced in The Many Faces of Mike Hammer: A Personal Recollection by Larry Cohen (2013) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Actor Darren McGavin plays private detective Mike Hammer. In the space of 30 minutes, he normally escapes a couple assassination attempts, beats at least one man to a pulp, flirts with one or more beautiful women, fires off some 50s tough-guy slang, and solves a perplexing mystery. The pace is very fast.
The premise of the show is that the world is an evil, violent place, and the strong and upright must be as tough as the bad guys to set things right. But that doesn't mean they can't have a little fun along the way, enjoying broads, booze, or other masculine entertainments as circumstances present themselves.
I do not know that I have ever seen a TV character so quick to use his fists or a gun when trouble arises. And, when Mike Hammer beats you, he does not just knock you down or knock you out. He continues beating you as the blood spurts out and you beg for mercy, then he beats you some more. Even innocent witnesses are pushed around until they give up their information. That he is not imprisoned for his frequent violent assaults is a miracle. He does frequently fall afoul of the police, receiving threats, being questioned, and sometimes being locked up, but only temporarily.
In the world of Mike Hammer, there is no such thing as a flat-chested or overweight woman, except for the occasional wife or grandmother. The show is populated by beautiful, large-breasted women with well-coiffed hair, wearing tight dresses that show off their curves, and push-up bras that are so stiff and lift breasts so high they threaten to poke out your eyes. Mike flirts with and openly leers at these women in a way that would surely make viewers uncomfortable today.
With only 30 minutes to play with, the characters are often one-dimensional. Women, except when evil sluts, are weaklings dominated by men. They are either helpless victims, or madly attracted to Mike, or incidental holders of information he needs, or mere eye-candy populating his world. Sometimes they are the tool of a bad guy, used to lure Mike into a trap, then sent on their way. Men are not treated much better. The line between good and evil is starkly drawn, and the most complex a character (other than Mike) usually gets is when someone thought to be good turns out to be evil.
There are many pluses. A lot happens. The evil plots are often complex and ingenious. The show employs a great deal of humor and tries not to take itself too seriously.
In the final analysis, Mike Hammer is on the right side. He fights against crime, and bravely protects the weak, despite the risk to himself. If you had trouble, and were in the right, there is no one better you could have on your side. He is strong, violent, cynical and testosterone-fueled, the epitome of 50s cool.
Despite the shortcomings of the show, it is entertaining, and the fast pace ensures you will not get bored.