I Watch Films: I, The Jury

 

I, The Jury

Private Investigator Mike Hammer (Biff Elliott) is called to the apartment of his war buddy, insurance investigator Jack Williams. Furious, he vows revenge, and when a reporter makes a joke he manhandles him. Afterwards Pat Chambers, police captain and head of homicide, suggests the reporter put Hammer’s vow in the paper, implying Hammer knows something.

Hammer has no clue, and his first lead, going to see Williams’ fiancée Myrna, is a dead end as she is too grief stricken. The next day he’s handed a party guest list from Williams’ Christmas party by his secretary Velda, who says that Chambers sent it over. She also shows him the newspaper; they’ve put Hammer on the front page under the headline I, The Jury. Hammer realises that Chambers wants to use him to draw out the killer; the article followed by Hammer going to visit them (as part of the list) will make them think he’s on their trail. He decides to go ahead with it anyway.

Hammer goes to talk to Kalecki, fight promoter and art collector, who claims to have been at home with Hal Kines. The two men immediately argue. He then goes to alluring psychoanalyst Charlotte Manning, who treated both Williams and his fiancée; despite some banter he learns nothing.

Chambers catches up with Hammer, and says that Kines has moved out of Kalecki’s house and thinks Hammer shot at him; it becomes clear that the man Kalecki introduced as Kines was someone else. Hammer searches Kines apartment, finds photos of him and Kalecki together in Europe. Kines returns and Hammer fights him, winning. In the same building are twin sister entertainers Mary and Esther Bellamy who also went to the party. Mary reveals that Jack and Myrna argued at the party; Charlotte drove her, Esther and Myrna home that night.

The plot get more complicated as a ex-boxer reveals Kalecki runs a numbers racket*. Hammer tries to find out more, but is beaten up; going to Charlotte to have his wounds tended she suggests looking through Williams’ cases. Hammer discovers Williams was investigating a dance studio, which is brothel-coded but the film can’t say it. Williams had been contacted by the father of one of the women there; she had run away from college with a man called John Hanlon – who it becomes clear was the man who claimed to be Hal Kines.

Amazingly the plot has several more twists and turns, fights and traps. Hammer is loud, aggressive, determined, and distinctly working class. Yet he’s not out of depth amongst these richer people. This was the first film adaption of a Mike Hammer novel, and there’s a lot going on – introducing new people and plot lines fairly late. You’ve already indicated Kalecki runs a criminal organisation, you don’t need to give us another line – not in an 87 minute film.

Watch This: Fast moving twisty noir thriller
Don’t Watch This: Hyperactive story, Hammer’s not endearing or interesting as a character

* An illegal lottery based on a number published in the newspapers – often the last three digits of "the handle" the amount of money bet at racecourses the previous day