I, the Jury (1982 film)

I, the Jury
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Richard T. Heffron
Written by	Novel: Mickey Spillane Screenplay: Larry Cohen
Produced by	Robert H. Solo
Starring	Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon
Cinematography	Andrew Laszlo
Edited by	Garth Craven
Music by	Bill Conti
Production companies	American Cinema Productions Larco Productions Pellepont Solofilm
Distributed by	20th Century Fox (US) Columbia-EMI-Warner (UK)
Release date	April 22, 1982
Running time	111 mins.
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1,515,578

I, the Jury is a 1982 film based on the best-selling detective novel of the same name by Mickey Spillane. The story was previously filmed in 3D in 1953. Larry Cohen wrote the screenplay and was hired to direct, but was replaced when the film's budget was already out of control after one week of shooting. He was replaced by Richard T. Heffron.

The film begins with a James Bond-like teaser opening before the story begins.

Plot

Detectives Mike Hammer and his one-armed friend, Jack Williams, who is discovered murdered. The plot also features a serial rapist and a sex therapy clinic headed up by Dr. Charlotte Bennett.

The plot contains elements not in the novel, such as government conspiracies and mind-control techniques by the CIA and the Mafia.

Production

According to screenwriter Larry Cohen, he was originally hired to direct but was fired after expressing his concerns to cast or crew over the producers running out of money. Cohen also claimed "We finished way ahead of them. They went way over budget and the company went bankrupt. They sold the picture at a bankruptcy sale." (Cohen didn't specify which production company went bankrupt.)

Critical reaction

The film received mixed reviews. It was criticized for eschewing essential plot lines from the novel, in favor of nudity, violence and extended action scenes. Others complained that Assante was miscast as Hammer. However, a New York Times review of the film in 1982 written by Jennifer Dunning found the pulp film entertaining:

"Along the way there are spectacular chases and ingenious gore, including a water bed that oozes blood. It all ends with Hammer storming a booby-trapped hideaway, alone and without a gun, then slithering through a last little fillip of bloody romance. I, the Jury only aims to entertain. And who cares, with Mr. Assante around?"

Cast

• Armand Assante as Mike Hammer
• Barbara Carrera as Dr. Charlotte Bennett
• Laurene Landon as Velda
• Alan King as Charles Kalecki
• Geoffrey Lewis as Joe Butler
• Paul Sorvino as Detective Pat Chambers
• Judson Scott as Charles Kendricks

External links

• New York Times Review October 11, 1982
• I, the Jury at IMDb
• I, the Jury at AllMovie
• I, the Jury at Box Office Mojo
• I, the Jury at Rotten Tomatoes