In the mid-20th century, Mickey Spillane was the sensation of not just mystery fiction but publishing itself. The level of sex and violence in his Mike Hammer thrillers (starting with I, The Jury in 1947) broke down long-held taboos and engendered a near hysterical critical backlash. Nonetheless, Spillane's influence has been felt—reflections of Hammer are visible in nearly every subsequent tough guy of fiction and film, including James Bond, Dirty Harry, Shaft, Billy Jack, and Jack Bauer. Spillane's fiction came to the screen in a series of films that include Kiss Me Deadly (1955) and The Girl Hunters (1963) with the author himself playing his private eye. These films, and television series starring Darren McGavin and Stacy Keach respectively, are examined in a lively, knowledgeable fashion by Spillane experts. Included are cast and crew listings, brief biographical entries on key persons, and a lengthy interview with Spillane.
Acknowledgments: A Tip of the Porkpie Hat ix
Introduction 1
Prologue: I, the Writer 5
Spillane at the Movies
1 "I, the Jury" (1953) 17
2 "The Long Wait" (1954) 27
3 "Ring of Fear" (1954) 36
4 "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955) 43
5 "My Gun Is Quick" (1957) 62
6 "The Girl Hunters" (1963) 72
7 "The Delta Factor" (1970) 83
8 "I, the Jury" (1982) 88
Spillane on TV
9 Mike Hammer TV Pilot (1954) 95
10 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" (1958-59) 100
11 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in 'Margin for Murder'" (1981) 117
12 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer: 'Murder Me, Murder You'" (1983) 121
13 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer: 'More Than Murder'" (1984) 128
14 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" (1984-85) CBS-TV 131
15 "Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" (1986) 139
16 "The New Mike Hammer" (1986-87) CBS-TV 143
17 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer: 'Murder Takes All'" (1989) 152
18 "'Come Die with Me:' A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery" (1994) 155
19 "Tomorrow I Die" ("Fallen Angels," 1995) 162
20 "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Private Eye" (1997-98) 166
Appendices
A The Hammer (Film) Code 175
B "'The Girl Hunt' Ballet" ("The Band Wagon," 1953) 176
C Who's Who of Spillane on Film 179
D Stars of the Hammer Film Universe 186
E Mickey Spillane in His Own Words 187
Bibliography 203
Index 205
Overview
In the mid-20th century, Mickey Spillane was the sensation of not just mystery fiction but publishing itself. The level of sex and violence in his Mike Hammer thrillers (starting with I, The Jury in 1947) broke down long-held taboos and engendered a near hysterical critical backlash. Nonetheless, Spillane's influence has been felt—reflections of Hammer are visible in nearly every subsequent tough guy of fiction and film, including James Bond, Dirty Harry, Shaft, Billy Jack, and Jack Bauer. Spillane's fiction came...