mark.waltz This is not a film noir by any means, but a throwback to the dime detective novel that with several elements added became film noir in the 1940's. You'd almost classify it as film noir, but as somebody who often calls other similar themed films as noir cannot find that one element to put it in that category. As "The Big Sleep" is combination detective story/film noir, this is combination detective story/political thriller.Opening up with a drunk Mike Hammer (Mickey Spillane) passed out on a dark city street, this quickly moves to his rehab, return to his detective agency, and his return to a case involving the murders of his secretary and a senator that has baffled all who have tried to solve it. Hammer ends up all over this dark city in society, in waterfront dives, and involved with soft looking dames who know more than they are willing to share. Never leaving is that solo trumpet, haunting you as it practically becomes a character in the story.Often stagnant and slow, this lacks in star power but overwhelms you with detail and intensity. At times, it becomes very perplexing, taking a metaphorical side street but suddenly back on the main drag. Of the supporting cast, only veteran character actor Lloyd Nolan is familiar, playing opposite Spillane which is the type of part he played as Michael Shayne and other B movie detectives. The future Bond girl, Shirley Eaton, is a golden blonde vixen, making the most of both her sultry looks and mysterious character. This is new wave cinema at its finest at a time when the old style of Hollywood cinema began taking on new ideas to change with the times. If you're hunting for a masterpiece, this ain't it, but it will keep your brain on its toes and your eyes full front.

nomoons11 Right off Mickey Spillane is no actor. I didn't expect Bogart when I went into this and I didn't get it. But that's not to say he didn't do an admirable job.This film from beginning to end is very intriguing and has so many twists and turns it'll keep you watchin right until the end credits.I think from what I've been reading the most talked about parts are how did Mike Hammer figure out that "The Dragon" was a team...2 people. I myself didn't think of this in terms of teams but I did know not long after about the middle of the film that the girl was involved. The one scene that convinced me was where the supposed assassin, The Dragon, takes a pot shot and Mike and the girl at the poolside. First off, how does a guy miss anyone from 20 feet away? He's suppose to be this ultra slick/successful assassin and he can't hit anyone from 20ft. away? I knew then that she was involved. It was just a scare tactic.The biggest hole and issue in this film to me is the motivation. Why did this girl get involved in this commie spy ring? That's the whole problem in why I don't rate this film higher. I mean she was no more than 3 or 4 years old at the formation of this ring. How 20 years later did she get involved with it? Why did she get involved? They leave you without a clue. That was the answer I wanted...and didn't get it.Don't worry about Spillane's acting, it wasn't too bad. Give this a go and wait for the end. I's brutal. Even by today's standards. Not much blood but a lot of violence. This was definitely worth a watch. I wish they still made these PI films.

AlanSquier Yeah, pals, I'll bet this is a dream of many writers, to portray his or her favorite character on the screen. I imagine Agatha Christy would have loved to portray Miss Marple, and Dashell Hammett possibly would have picked The Continental Op to portray.That off my chest, I feel kindly toward this film and was glad for the opportunity to see Spillane as Hammer. I can't say he was terribly good, but one can at least say that his portrayal was interesting, and I don't mean that as a put-down.It was also good as always to see Lloyd Nolan still around and adding to the film. This sure isn't the best Mike Hammer film, but I found it worth a look and imagine you will too.

dgz78 This movie is a perfect illustration that good dialog in a book doesn't necessarily translate to good dialog in film. When one reads a line like "They just don't make dragons like they used to" it doesn't sound a corny as it does when spoken by a wooden Mickey Spillane.And the biggest problem isn't that Mickey Spillane is such a bad actor - it's that his is not the worst performance in the movie. Only Lloyd Nolan manages to sound like he's not reading lines off the back of a cereal box. Especially bad performances are put in by Hy Gardner as a newspaper columnist and Scott Peters' over the top job as a police captain and former partner of Hammer. At least Gardner has an excuse since he wasn't a professional actor like Peters. Shirley Eaton models a wide range of bikinis and is always easy on the eyes if not on the brain.Like any good pulp fiction, the plot of The Girl Hunters is besides the point. Hammer's old secretary Velda plays the role of the macguffin and Hammer spends his time trying to follow her trail and the murder of a politician. The end comes without us ever finding out what happened to Velda but it really doesn't matter. This movie is all style and no substance so we really never care about Velda.No Mike Hammer film is going to be make anyone forget Shakespeare but this is really a waste of time. I give it two stars only because the cinematography is good and Nolan shows what a real actor can do.Finally, why did they black out the credit at the end of the movie stating it was filmed at MGM studios in England? A strange ending to a strange mess of a movie.