This is based on one of the later Hammer books. Mike has been on a multi-year bender, distraught over the disappearance and presumed death of his secretary and partner Velda. He's dragged into a hospital by former friend and police captain Pat Chambers (Scott Peters). There's a dying man who has vital information who says he'll only talk to Hammer. The dying man tells Mike that Velda is still alive, and is being hunted by trained assassin The Dragon. This revelation brings Mike out of his funk, and he sobers up and gets back on the job determined to find Velda.

Of course, along the way he has to deal with federal agents who want information, and might be willing to share a bit too, rich widows, reporters, and all the various lowlifes one expects to find on the mean streets. Mike isn't concerned with subtlety, he's concerned with finding Velda, and he calls in every favor he can, and twists every arm he can find, to do it.

The film is tightly plotted, and faithful book as far as I know. It should be, since Spillane also wrote the screenplay. The main detriment to viewing pleasure is the character of Hammer himself. He's rather unpleasant. This is a staple feature of Hammer, in both books and adaptations, but it's particularly exacerbated here. It doesn't help that Hammer is a drunken slob as the story begins, and admittedly he does get better as time goes on, but never loses his bluntness or abrasive personality. One of the most iconic lines from the film is, "Hell, I never hit dames. I always kick ‘em." Prince Charming he is not. The world he operates in is also rough edged and vicious, and there isn't exactly an uplifting ending. However, there is a lot of cool stuff to see.

There is a terrific scene, a version of which actually happened to Spillane, in which an unarmed Hammer deftly deals with an aggressive fellow with an ice pick. There's also a barn burner of a fight between Hammer and The Dragon toward the end of the picture. The dialogue is punchy and crisp. The performances are all pretty good, especially Shirley Eaton as Laura Knapp, the widow of an influential senator. Even Spillane holds his own, though he is not at all a trained actor.

In short, there's a lot to like about The Lady Hunters, and fans of Mike Hammer and Mickey Spillane definitely need to see it. But keep in mind that it takes a stark and pessimistic view of humanity. Recommended.

The DVD

Video:
The image is 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, and looks quite good. The black and white picture is very bright, making the film hard to describe as a "noir" film, since there are few to no shadows to speak of. The image is crisp with good contrast. The inevitable imperfections, such as scratches or dirt, are minor and fleeting. This is a very good looking film.

Sound:
The audio is Dolby digital 2 channel, and is not great. I had to turn up the volume to hear properly, and the dialogue is sometimes a bit muffled. No subtitles or alternate language tracks are included.

Extras:
There are a lot of really cool extras included. They are:

Interview with Mickey Spillane
This is a thirty minute interview with Spillane conducted by his friend and collaborator Max Allan Collins, who also contributed a commentary. Spillane is a natural story teller, and quite a presence. His anecdotes about the production are very engaging, including describing a number of murders that happened nearby, including a couple that he personally witnessed. His story about the standoff in the bar that inspired a scene in the film is priceless. This is very good.

Interview with Shirley Eaton
This interview is only nine minutes long, and it's a shame because Eaton is vibrant and engaging. She talks about working with Spillane, which she enjoyed, and speaks candidly about her experience on the film. This is also very engaging.

Original Trailer
The trailer is great, hard charging and melodramatically narrated.

Commentary with Mickey Spillane Historian Max Allan Collins
This is the most substantial extra, and also quite informative and fun. Collins collaborated with Spillane, was his friend, and completed a number of unfinished books after Spillane's death. He knows his subject well, and is able to provide a lot of behind the scenes details. It's definitely worth a listen.

Final Thoughts:
The Lady Hunters is a solid detective movie, with a bit of a dour take on life. That's to be expected by any fan of Spillane's, so it's not too much of a down side. The transfer is clear and bright, and there are a number of really great extras. Hard Boiled Detective enthusiasts should make an effort to search this one out.