this movie be just plain dumb . from the casting of ralph meeker a mike hammer to the fatuous climax and the film be an exercise in wooden predictability . mike hammer be one of detective fiction true sociopath . unlike marlow and spade and who put piece together to solve the mystery and hammer break thing apart to get to the truth . this film turn hammer into a boob by surround him with bad guy who be . well and too dumb to get away with anything . one be so poorly drawn that he succumb to a popcorn attack . other part of the movie be right out of the three stooge play book . velda dance at the barre and for instance and or the bad guy who accidentally stab his bos in the back . and the continuity break be shameful represent frau blucher be run down the centerline of the road when the camera be tight on her low leg but she way over the side when the camera pull back for a wider shot . the bad break and however and precede the popcorn attack . the bad guy stalk hammer pass a clock second after our hero and except the clock show he be seven minute behind our guy . to be fair and there be some interesting camera angle and lighting and and the grand finale be so bad that it must be see and which be the only reason that it get two point out of 10 .