I, the Jury (1982 film)

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I, the Jury
I, the Jury movie poster
Directed by	Richard T. Heffron
Produced by	Robert H. Solo
Written by	Larry Cohen Mickey Spillane (novel)
Starring	Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon
Cinematography	Andrew Laszlo
Editing by	Garth Craven
Distributed by	Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
Release date(s)	April 22, 1982
Running time	111 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

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 first hired to direct the film but was replaced when the film's budget was already out of control after one week of shooting.^{[citation needed]}

The film begins with a James-Bond-like teaser opening before the story begins. The plot involves P.I. Hammer discovering that a friend, Jack Williams a one-armed detective, has been murdered and he begins investigating in an attempt to find out what happened. It turns out that there is a serial rapist involved as well as a sex therapy clinic headed up by sexy Dr. Charlotte Bennett (Carrera). The plot also contains, but not in the novel, government conspiracies and mind-control techniques by the CIA and the Mafia.

[edit] Critical reaction

The film received mixed reviews when it first played in theaters. The film was criticized for having too much nudity and violence. Others complained that Assante was mis-cast as Hammer. However, a New York Times review, written by Jennifer Dunning, of the film in 1982 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?"