Comrade Hammer - Recap

Hammer is jogging in the park when a model plane pursues him. He ducks for cover and then shoots it down. Two nearby women are disappointed that he's shot down their remote-control plane. A familiar looking bald Englishman walks by, and Hammer gets back on track with his jogging. He crosses the road and a limousine almost runs him over. The driver apologizes when he realizes Hammer is an officer. A man inside makes a break for it and his captors say they need him alive so they'll find him later.



The man, Professor Vronsky, chases after Hammer who tries to ignore him because he's a Communist. Vronsky manages to get his attention by saying "God bless America" and Hammer takes him to the station. Trunk confirms Vronsky's identity with the embassy and Vronsky explains he escaped three months ago and the KGB is after him. He doesn't want them to call in the CIA because they may have KGB moles, and only trusts Hammer. They decide they need to take a train to avoid problems at the airports. They board the train and Dr. Johanssen, a visiting lecturer from Oklahoma, knows Vronsky and is going to the same convention. She's afraid to fly but doesn't have a compartment, so Doreau offers to share. They make their way through a cattle car accidentally fastened to the train then get to their compartments. The two KGB agents from the limousine watch them from hiding.



Vronsky quickly becomes claustrophobic in the cramped question and they play chess to ease his nerves. Meanwhile, the KGB agents' overseer visits them: it's Johanssen. She's actually Markovich, and gives them waiter jackets. They practice their American behavior. Meanwhile, Hammer and Vronsky discuss politics and Hammer gets bored. He goes out to check and see if the hallway is safe and notices one of the KGB agents. He goes after the man but chases him into the diner car where the agent blends in with the other waiters. Hammer finally finds the waiter and backs him out the door, and the man jumps off the train. Hammer returns to the cabin only to discover that Vronsky has disappeared. Vronsky comes in and Hammer accidentally tosses him to the floor. The professor explains he went out for some fresh air and Doreau insists that no one take their eyes off the professor. They go through a tunnel and Vronsky disappears when the lights go out.



Hammer and Doreau search the train while Johanssen pulls the emergency brake so they can get Vronsky off the train. Hammer finds the remaining agent accompanying Vronsky and their struggle takes them into a cabin. The agent tries to strangle Hammer with a wire garrote but Hammer uses a lamp to shock him into fleeing. Hammer finds Vronsky and reluctantly handcuffs the professor to him rather than hunt down the agent. However, Hammer has lost the key. Johanssen sees it on the floor and quickly picks it up. In the dining car, Hammer and Vronsky try to eat with predictable results and Vronsky mentions a secret project he was working on to remove nitrogen from the soil. They then return to their cabin and try to undress for bed without much luck. Meanwhile, Johanssen sneaks out of Doreau's cabin and goes to Hammer's and uses chloroform to knock out Vronsky. She gives Hammer the same treatment but Vronsky rolls out of bed and falls on her before she can succeed. Johanssen grabs Hammer's gun but he disarms her with a pillow. However, Sledge manages to knock himself out on the edge of bed. Johanssen unlocks the handcuffs and then throws Hammer out the window. Fortunately, Sledge managed to hang onto the train. The officers pursue Johanssen and they end up in the cattle car. The KGB agent grabs Doreau and Johanssen attacks Hammer. Doreau takes out her opponent and Hammer delivers the knockout punch. Doreau is astonished he'd hit an unarmed woman, but Hammer removes Johanssen's mask to reveal that "she" is a man: he spotted her from his aftershave.



Later back at the station, Doreau and Markovich compare fingernail polishes and Doreau explains to Trunk and Hammer that Russia is arranging an exchange of Markovich for a journalist. Markovich boasts that the Russian government spent money to make him more like a woman and win the Mrs. Iron Curtain pageant.


Share this article with your friends