Hammer Time!!

THIS TV rocks.

This cable channel (320 on Houston's Comcast) is always a source for awesome old school movies. Tonight, however, THIS kicks off a marathon of movies starring Fred "The Hammer" Williamson!
Football fans will recall that the Hammer was a defensive back for several football teams and played in Super Bowl I -- and supposedly knocked out of action during the first play of the game.

He went on to make some great B-movies in the 1970s, then starred in a few decent Italial action films (including the Black Cobra triology).

Tonight's Hammerfest will showcase some of the man's finest movies moments. Here's a rundown of this evening's films:

5 p.m. - "Hammer": The perfect movie to launch an evening with the Hammer. Williamson plays a boxer who rises through the heavyweight ranks only to find himself at odds with the mob. This isn't the movie that launched his career (Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H." holds that distinction), but it pretty much kicked off his run in a host of blaxploitation films. Great film! Also starring B-movie great William Smith.



7 p.m. - "Original Gangstas": This 1996 movie marked a minor comeback for Hammer and many of his peers (Jim Brown, Pam Grier). Williamson plays a former teen hood turned pro football coach who returns to his hometown to help clean up crime. Great movie! Not only is Williamson reunited with Brown and Grier, but he again teams with director Larry Cohen (who directed him in "Black Caesar" and "Hell Up in Harlem").

9 p.m. - "Hell Up in Harlem": This is the sequel to Williamson's signature movie, "Black Caesar." At the end of that movie, his mobster character Tommy was supposedly killed. He miraculously survives several gunshot wounds to continue his dominance on the underworld. A sub-plot involves ledgers implicating high ranking politicos in crime activity. Lots of action, and a great coast-to-coast chase that ends in an airport slugfest.

11 p.m.: "Original Gangstas": If you missed it earlier, here's "O.G." again.

1 p.m.: "Soda Cracker": This 1989 film is also known as "The Kill Reflex." It's not Hammer's finest effort but does have its moments. Williamson plays a cop nicknames Soda Cracker (not really sure why), who goes toe-to-toe with nemesis Bo "Walking Tall Pt. II" Svenson (wearing some cheesy jogging suits). He also finds romance with former Bond babe Maude Adams. The highlight is a pretty funny showdown between Hammer and a remote controlled helicopter.