Mike Hammer

I love the old private detective shows of the 1950's and 1960's with their jazzy musical themes and their tough heroes with a heart of gold. This early version of Mike Hammer wasn't the best, (that would be Peter Gunn), but it had the best lead actor, Darren McGavin, one of those performers who is usually the best thing in anything he's in. Another reviewer said that he 'nails' Mike Hammer and he really does. Apparently he didn't like the character, (actors are often very different from the characters they play). The theory that he played it as a spoof of private eyes is interesting. The shows and McGavin's performances are serious enough that I wonder about that. But he does seem at times to laugh his way through some scenes and give a comic touch to the show. He can handle the drama just as well. The production values are cheap but he's a whole reason to watch the show by himself.

There is one other reason: the musical theme, 'Riff Blues', (I hope dfam1, who posted a review 17 years ago asking about that finally found out that that's what they call it- there are several good versions on You-Tube). I love Harlem Noctrune, the theme used for the Stacey Keach series, but Riff Blues is equally good.

I'm currently watching an episode of this show and David Janssen's 'Richard Diamond' show each night. Both are half an hour, (meaning 25 minutes), long and contemporary to each other, (Diamond was 1957-60, Hammer 1958-60). Diamond was a network show used as a replacement show, Hammer a syndicated show, so Hammer actually has more episodes, 78 to 77. Hammer is based in New York and Diamond was as well the first two seasons, (although neither show was filmed there, except for a few scenes of Hammer). You wonder if Diamond, (which starred another one of my favorite actors in Janssen) and Hammer ever crossed paths. The actors may well have crossed paths as both series were filmed at the Republic Pictures studios in LA. Both actors later played private eyes in well-regarded series, (McGavin in 'The Outsider' and Janssen in 'Harry O'). I've checked their resumes on the IMDB and they don't seem to have acted in the same TV episode or movies, although Todd and Buzz encountered each of them along 'Route 66'.

A lot of great actors have played Mickey Spillane's bad boy detective. From the list of Hollywood heavyweights from Anthony Quinn to Robert Bray,Biff Elliott,Ralph Meeker,Robert Mitchum,Stacey Keach and even Mickey Spillane himself. Perhaps from the range of actors that were convincing,nobody did it better with style and class better than Darren McGavin. His portrayal of gumshoe tough guy Mike Hammer was not only laid back but was a class act. Mickey Spillane's character was basically the first title used for two syndicated television series that followed the adventures of fictional private investigator Mike Hammer. This was the first of the two television series featuring the gritty,crime fighting detective. The first from the mid-1950's starred Darren McGavin while the other from the early-1980's starred Stacey Keach.

"Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer",with Darren McGavin in the title role,was the first syndicated television series based on Spillane's title character,the adventures of a tough gumshoe hard-boiled private detective. The series was itself one extremely violent,sexist series that was one of the coolest detective shows of its day. The series produced 78 episodes and it ran two seasons in syndication from 1956 to 1959. The series was produced by Revue Productions/MCA-TV Universal Studios. Filmed in Hollywood of course,with the opening and closing credits of the show using that scenery of New York as its theme. The black and white filming of the series enhances the film noir atmosphere. The entire premise of the show is that the world is an evil and violent place(the setting is New York),and the strong and upright must be as tough and quick as the baddies to set things right.

In the space of a half-hour,Darren McGavin normally escapes assassination attempts on his life,beats at least one man to a bloody pulp while continuously flirts with one or more beautiful women,fires of some 50's tough guy slang while solving a murder and a mystery. The pace of this show is very fast and once you watch it you may want to keep up with what happens next. Darren McGavin's character of Mike Hammer was a tough gumshoe private eye while regularly played judge,jury and executioner to an assortment of bad guys and crooked lowlifes each week. All within a 30 minute time slot. In the final analysis when Hammer solves the mysteries and brings the baddies to justice he may have to go beyond or stoop down to the level to take a case ,but you knew he was on the right side. His crusade against crime,while bravely protects the weak,despite taking a regular share of abuse in just about every episode,takes risk to himself by going great lengths to protect his clients' innocent. He is strong,cynical and have to be extremely violent to do what he has to do. Mike Hammer was the epitome of 50's cool and Darren McGavin was a brilliant to watch here.

Darren McGavin,after Mike Hammer was canceled in 1959 McGavin switched gears starring in the short-lived western series "Riverboat"(which was also produced by Revue Studios), and would return to played another hardboiled detective in the short-lived 1965 series called "The Outsider",and later on would go on to greater fame as Carl Kolchak in the classic supernatural-detective show of the early 1970's "Kolchak:The Night Stalker" Bart Burns played the role of Hammer's trustworthy ally in the police department Captain Pat Chambers. Burns who go on to guest star in several television series including "Dragnet","Columbo","Ironside",and "The Rockford Files".

Speaking of the guest star roster for this classic series from the 1950's,you had stars that were coming up,but made a name for themselves during this time....from Barbara Bain,Robert Vaughn,John Forsythe,to Loren Greene,and even Carl Betz...the list goes on and on. What a show!

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.

I am 52 and also enjoyed the series as a child. I also enjoyed him in Night Stalker, although it became a little campy. My question is, does anyone know the name of the theme song from the original show. I am only able to find the name from the Stacey Keach version, called Harlem Nocturne which I did not embrace. Thanks I am 52 and also enjoyed the series as a child. I also enjoyed him in Night Stalker, although it became a little campy. My question is, does anyone know the name of the theme song from the original show. I am only able to find the name from the Stacey Keach version, called Harlem Nocturne which I did not embrace. Thanks I am 52 and also enjoyed the series as a child. I also enjoyed him in Night Stalker, although it became a little campy. My question is, does anyone know the name of the theme song from the original show. I am only able to find the name from the Stacey Keach version, called Harlem Nocturne which I did not embrace. Thanks

If you liked Darren McGavin in Kolchak: The Night Stalker, he is more avant-garde, irreverent, and disrespectful of authority is this series than any other character he has played since. Laced with his constant humor and bungling case solving attempts, the guy is a blast to watch. Considering that there have been 78 episodes should give anyone and indication that this series had great appeal. He gets into more situations than Colombo, Rockford, or that Hawaii 5-0 team put together. Maybe if we are lucky enough this series will be re-released on TV Land channel. Not doubt in my mind that this could up any channel's ratings. This is definitely one of TV-dom's classic efforts.