Darren McGavin is the best Mike Hammer

From 1958 -1960 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer aired on television, starring The Sudden Curve's favorite actor Darren McGavin in 78 episodes. Of all the guys that have played Mike Hammer over the years (including Micky Spillane hisownself) the only one to really get him right was Darren McGavin.  He plays it as a satire and the show was an instant success.  Man, it's a dirty shame the series isn't available anywhere that I can find.  I'd love to see it.

posted by Tom Novak, who's read an interview about this, and says Lou Wasserman the producer got really mad at McGavin and tried to force him to play Hammer serious and he refused!  All Hail, Darren McGavin.

Comments

[Bob Wallace]

I don't see how anyone can take Spillane's novels seriously. He was so over-the-top the only way to play Hammer was as a parody.

[Brian Drake]

Look up a box set of films by Max Allan Collins called "Black Box: Shades of Neo Noir" which includes a documentary on Spillane, and the pilot episode of the McGavin series. Good stuff.